SWNT-polymer composites

Figure 4.12 Left AFM images of polymer-coated SWNTs right stress-strain curves of the corresponding SWNT polymer composites. Reproduced with permission from Yuan et al ...

SWNT/polymer composites could also be made by a two-step fabrication process. For example, SWNT films were first fabricated on glass slides via Mayer rod coating, and then polymers such as PVA, Nafion and polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) were infiltrated into SWNT networks. As the polymer occupied the empty space between the nanotubes, a freestanding... 

In general, the mechanical properties and glass transition temperature are reported to be enhanced in the presence of CNTs. A practical method of producing CNT-polymer composites is by melt mixing. For this purpose, the goal of this study was to prepare SWNT-polymer composites by melt mixing using a shear mixer. 

Beside their well-known extra-high mechanical properties, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) offer either metallic or semiconductor characteristics based on the chiral structure of fullerene. They possess superior thermal and electrical properties so SWNTs are regarded as the most promising reinforcement material for the next generation of high performance structural and multifunctional composites, and evoke great interest in polymer based composites research. The SWNTs/polymer composites are theoretically predicted to have both exceptional mechanical and functional properties, which carbon fibers cannot offer [105]. 

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