Polymer nanocomposites carbon nanotubes alignment

Haggenmueller R, Zhou W, Fischer JE, Winey KI (2003) Production and characterization of polymer nanocomposites with highly aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2(1-2) 105-110... 

CNTs can enhance the thermal properties of CNT-polymer nanocomposites. The reinforcing function is closely associated with the amount and alignment of CNTs in the composites. Well-dispersed and long-term stable carbon nanotubes/ polymer composites own higher modulus and better thermal property as well as better electronic conductivity (Valter et al., 2002 Biercuk et al., 2002). Both SWNT and MWNT can improve the thermal stability and thermal conductivity of polymer, the polymer-CNT composites can be used for fabricating resistant-heat materials. 

Nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes have been an area of considerable R D ever since the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes were demonstrated. However, attempts to prepare carbon nanotube RPs often result in phase separation of the CNT and polymer phases causing premature material failure. Researchers at Nomadic Inc. and Oklahoma State University developed a layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly process that permits preparing polyelectrolyte/CNT RP with a CNT loading greater than 50 wt%. The excellent mechanical properties of these materials can be improved further by additional chemical action crosslinking of the CNT and polymer phases and by parallel alignment of the CNTs. The LBL method has been used to prepare various types of RPs. 

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