Preparation and characterization of melt-processed polycarbonate/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites

This study describes the preparation of polycarbonate (PC)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites by melt processing the PC and PC/MWCNT master batch at 260°C. The PC/MWCNT master batch was prepared using ultrasonic mixing the carboxylic acid containing MWCNT and PC in a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. The HRTEM images of PC/MWCNT master batch and PC/MWCNT nanocomposites show that the MWCNT is well separated and uniformly distributed in the PC matrices. Mechanical properties of the fabricated nanocomposites measured by dynamic mechanical analysis indicate significant improvements in the storage modulus when compared with that of pure PC matrix. The conductivities of 2 and 5 wt% PC/MWCNT nanocomposites are more than four and seven orders in magnitude higher than that of PC without MWCNT, respectively. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers