Improving dispersion and integration of single‐walled carbon nanotubes in epoxy composites by using a reactive noncovalent dispersant |
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Authors: | Shuai Zhao Zhongxin Song Jian Cui Chaoqin Li Yehai Yan |
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Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Rubber‐plastics, Ministry of Education/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber‐Plastics, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China;2. Academy of High‐Performance Polymeric Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China |
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Abstract: | Uniform dispersion and strong interfacial interaction are two critical prerequisites for application of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in polymer composites. To endow the composites with multifunctional feature, no damage on the chemical/electronic structure of SWNTs is also usually required. With these ends in view, two epoxide‐containing pyrene derivatives (EpPys) were designed, synthesized, and used as reactive noncovalent dispersants for developing multifunctional epoxy/SWNT composites. One having longer chain length between epoxide group and pyrene moiety, that is, EpPy‐16, shows higher dispersing efficiency and provides the nanotube dispersion with better stability, thus picking up for subsequent studies. Systematic characterization on SWNT/EpPy‐16 hybrid demonstrates that 13.2 wt % of EpPy‐16 is adsorbed on the SWNT surface through strong π‐stacking interaction, and intrinsic electronic structure of SWNTs is basically reserved. The solution‐based process adopted here preserves the good SWNT dispersing state in dispersion into the composites. Simultaneously, enhanced interfacial interaction is also realized by using EpPy‐16, which interacts noncovalently with SWNT but connects covalently to epoxy network. As a result, the composites acquire 37 and 22% increments in tensile strength and Young's modulus, respectively, relative to that of neat resin. A low‐electrical percolation threshold of 0.1 wt % SWNTs and improved thermal properties were also observed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012 |
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Keywords: | carbon nanotubes composites dispersions epoxy resin interfaces pyrene derivatives |
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