Excellent dispersion of MWCNTs in PEO polymer achieved through a simple and potentially cost-effective evaporation casting
Abstract
A simple, reliable and potentially cost-effective composite film casting procedure is presented using the evaporation of solvent (water) from a dilute mixture of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer. It is found that the fabrication method develops excellent dispersion of MWCNTs in PEO confirmed by morphology observations, final crystallinity of polymer (amorphous) and a lower percolation threshold (closer to theoretical value) as well as higher electrical conductivity. A film thickness prediction model is derived based upon the fact that final film thickness is mainly dependent upon the dimensions of the casting mold and the loading of the MWCNTs and polymer. This simple model provides important insight that the material loss and the actual density of the base polymer are critical factors making the current casting method truly cost effective and controlling final thickness.
Keywords
X-RAY-SCATTERING; CARBON NANOTUBE COMPOSITES; POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE); SMALL-ANGLE; PERCOLATION-THRESHOLD; MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES; OVERLAPPING ELLIPSOIDS; CONTINUUM PERCOLATION; POLYETHYLENE OXIDE; CONDUCTIVITY
DOI
10.1088/0957-4484/22/41/415703
Citation
Applied Physics Letters: Volume 99, Issue 15
Date of this Version
10-14-2011
Recommended Citation
Park, Myounggu; Kim, Hyonny; Youngblood, Jeffrey; Han, Sang Woo; Verplogen, Eric; and Hart, A John, "Excellent dispersion of MWCNTs in PEO polymer achieved through a simple and potentially cost-effective evaporation casting" (2011). Birck and NCN Publications. Paper 844.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/22/41/415703