Effect of interfacial interaction on free volumes in phenol-formaldehyde resin-carbon nanotube composites: positron annihilation lifetime and age momentum correlation studies

The phenol-formaldehyde-carbon nanotube composites were characterized for their free volume properties and interfacial interactions between nanotubes and the polymer matrix. The base polymeric material was a novolac type phenol-formaldehyde (PF) condensation resin cross-linked with para-toluene sulfonic acid. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized using a catalytical chemical vapor deposition method and characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The PF resin-carbon nanotubes composites having 2, 5, 10 and 20% (w/w%) MWCNTs were prepared. The crystallinity and morphology of the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The free volume size in the polymer nanocomposites was observed to increase with the increase in nanotube content. Positron age momentum correlation (AMOC) studies revealed the electronic environment around different positron annihilation sites. The studies showed that ortho-positronium principally annihilates from interfacial regions of polymer and nanotubes in the nanocomposite. The positron lifetime studies together with AMOC measurements indicate an increase in the free volumes at the interface of polymer and MWCNTs in the composite. The free positron intensities showed that the polymer and nanotubes are weakly interacting in this system.