Carbon nanotube composite films Casting

Most of PVA/CNT composites are processed under the form of films. Generally, films are casted and dried from water-based PVA and nanotube dispersions. Different types of water-based dispersions have been used. Carbon nanotubes come from various production sources and can be covalently functionalized. The PVA molecular weight and hydrolysis rate can also be varied as well as the nanotube fraction. This is why comparisons between all the contributions in the literature can sometimes be difficult. Nevertheless some general and important features can still be deduced from all the studies reported on this topic. 

Aramid nanocomposite films with 1% hybrid fillers of graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been prepared by solution casting [28]. The electric heating behavior has been investigated as a function of the composition of the carbon fillers. The electrical resistivity can be controlled by the amount of graphene and carbon nanotubes added. 

Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in carbon-based particles/cellu-lose formulation development, in which carbon particles are used to enhance mechanical properties and electrical conductivity simultaneously [168]. Regenerated cellulose/ graphene composite films had been recently prepared by dispersing graphene into cellulose solution and then casting the solution onto glass [169]. Graphene, the two nano-dimensional counterpart of carbon nanotube, consists of one atom-thick layer of... 

Abstract. In this study various composites based on the commercial ethylene vinyl acetate polymer matrix and multiwalled carbon nanotubes were prepared by casting from solution in the form of thick films. The degree of dispergation of carbon nanotubes in the polymer matrix was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of those composites were investigated. It was observed that the electrical conductivity of composites increases with an increase of multiwalled carbon nanotubes content. The mechanical properties of composites were only slightly changed when compared with properties of neat ethylene vinyl acetate matrix. 

---