Carbon nanotube liquids/polymer matrices

Sanchez studied the functionalization of oxidized SWCNTs and MWCNTs dispersed in thermoplastic elastomers based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/ poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO). These nanocomposites showed good dispersion and enhancement in thermo-oxidative stability [27]. 1 % of pristine multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) were dispersed in silicon rubber. The SR nanocomposites showed 28 % better thermal stability and 100 % improvement in the ultimate tensile strength is achieved as compared with the pristine polymer matrix counterpart [28]. Also ionic liquids have been tested to improve the dispersion and thermal stability of MWCNTs in polychloroprene rubber (CR) showing improvement in these properties [29]. On the other hand the effect of carbon nanofiber on nitrile rubber was studied. It has been found that the nanofiber increase the thermal stability and decrease the flammability [4]. 

I will introduce the phase separation of mixtures of rigid rodlike polymers and liquid crystal molecules in this section. Stiff, long liquid crystal polymers and carbon nanotubes are considered to be rodlike molecules. Because of the strong intermolecular van der Waals attraction, nanotubes aggregate and do not easily dissolve. However, they can be dispersed by modifications with surfactant-like molecules on the nanotube surface [51]. Such dispersed nanotubes can be aligned in a liquid crystal matrix. 

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