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RESEARCH FRONT
Contents Vol 62(8)

Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Composites

Caroline McClory A , Seow Jecg Chin A and Tony McNally A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AH, UK.

B Corresponding author. Email: t.mcnally@qub.ac.uk

Australian Journal of Chemistry 62(8) 762-785 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH09131
Submitted: 6 March 2009  Accepted: 15 July 2009   Published: 13 August 2009

Abstract

The unique geometry and extraordinary mechanical, electrical, and thermal conductivity properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) make them ideal candidates as functional fillers for polymeric materials. In this paper we review the advances in both thermoset and thermoplastic CNT composites. The various processing methods used in polymer/CNT composite preparation; solution mixing, in-situ polymerization, electrospinning, and melt blending, are discussed. The role of surface functionalization, including ‘grafting to’ and ‘grafting from’ using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), radical addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) in aiding dispersion of CNTs in polymers and interfacial stress transfer is highlighted. In addition the effect of CNT type, loading, functionality and alignment on electrical and rheological percolation is summarized. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of both Raman spectroscopy and oscillatory plate rheology as tools to characterize the extent of dispersion of CNTs in polymer matrices. We conclude by briefly discussing the potential applications of polymer/CNT composites and highlight the challenges that remain so that the unique properties of CNTs can be optimally translated to polymer matrices.


Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of the EU through Specific Targeted Research Project DESYGN-IT (No. NMP4-CT-2004-505626) and S.J.C. is grateful to QUB for funding a studentship.


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