Fabrication and Characterization of Soluble Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced P(MMA‐co‐EMA) Composites

Summary: Soluble multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (s‐MWNTs), obtained via amidation reaction of octadecylamine with purified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (p‐MWNTs), were solution‐mixed with P(MMA‐co‐EMA) at various loadings. Compared to the p‐MWNTs/P(MMA‐co‐EMA) composites, the s‐MWNTs/P(MMA‐co‐EMA) composites showed great improvement both in Young's modulus and tensile strength. With the addition of 10 wt.‐% s‐MWNTs, the Young's modulus and tensile strength of s‐MWNTs/P(MMA‐co‐EMA) composite have 135% and 49% increase over the pure P(MMA‐co‐EMA), respectively, and a 9.2% increase in Young's modulus and 12.8% increase in tensile strength over that of 10 wt.‐% p‐MWNTs composite. With the increase of MWNTs content, the T_g increases from 89 to 106 °C. SEM studies show that the s‐MWNTs are well dispersed in the polymer matrix. Good dispersion of s‐MWNTs in polymer matrix and great interfacial bonding between s‐MWNTs and P(MMA‐co‐EMA) may be the key reason for the improvement of the mechanical properties.

Stress‐strain curves of the MWNTs and P(MMA‐co‐EMA) composites.