Characterization of multiwall carbon nanotubes and influence of surfactant in the nanocomposite processing

Carbon nanotubes prepared by a classical CVD method with a nickel catalyst have been characterized, then used as conducting anisometric objects dispersed into a polymeric matrix. In a first part, these nanotubes are structurally characterized before and after heat treatments (HTT=1500, 2000, 2500 °C). Diffusion Raman experiments and diamagnetic susceptibility experiments demonstrated their limited graphitized structures.Then, in a second step, a well defined processing way to prepare nanocomposites with a standard epoxy resin is presented. In particular, the use or not of a non-ionic surfactant (Tergitol) to disperse these nanotubes is analyzed. The influence of nanotube contents is examined on the bulk nanocomposite density, the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites, and the d.c. electrical conductivity behavior. These results demonstrated that the interfacial properties are playing a fundamental role. On one hand, the glass transition temperature is increasing with the nanotube content, and on the other hand, the percolation threshold is found for a rather high critical volumic concentration. Finally, it is demonstrated that a pure geometrical model is not sufficient to explain these behaviors and that a wrapping effect of the organic matrix around the nanotubes has to be considered.