Metallized nanotube polymer composites via supercritical fluid impregnation |
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Authors: | Cheol Park Jae‐Woo Kim Godfrey Sauti Jin Ho Kang Conrad S. Lovell Luke J. Gibbons Sharon E. Lowther Peter T. Lillehei Joycelyn S. Harrison Negin Nazem Larry T. Taylor |
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Affiliation: | 1. National Institute of Aerospace, 100 Exploration Way, Hampton, Virginia 23666;2. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904;3. Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 23681;4. Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 |
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Abstract: | Although many metal decorated nanotubes and nanowires appear in the literature, well‐dispersed metal decorated nanotube polymer composites have rarely been reported because of the excessive density mismatch between the decorated nanotubes and polymer matrix. Here, we report a novel method to prepare well‐dispersed, highly functional, metallized nanotube polymer composites (MNPCs) that possess remarkably improved electrical conductivity and mechanical toughness. The MNPCs are prepared by supercritical fluid impregnation of an organometal compound into a premade well‐dispersed single wall carbon nanotube‐polymer composite film. The infused precursor preferentially migrates towards the nanotubes to undergo spontaneous reduction and form nanometer‐scale metal particles leading to an increase in the conductivity of the MNPC films. The environmentally friendly supercritical fluid impregnation process significantly improved the toughness of the composite films, regardless of the presence of metal. Additional functionality can be imparted into the resulting MNPC by infusing other precursors such as magnetic and catalytic metal compounds. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.* J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012 |
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Keywords: | carbon nanotube metallization nanocomposite supercritical CO2 toughness |
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