Influence of Carbon Nanotubes Concentration on Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) Composite Yarns Electrospun

Abstract

In this work, the influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) content on the mechanical and electrical properties of four series of polymeric matrix were made and their cytotoxicity on cells was evaluated to consider their use as a possible artificial muscle. For that, polymer composite yarns were electrospun using polymeric solutions at 10 wt.%. of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) P(S:AN) and P(S:AN-acrylic acid) P(S:AN-AA) at several monomeric concentrations, namely 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 50:50 (wt.%:wt.%), and 1 wt.% of AA. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added to the polymeric solutions at two concentrations, 0.5 and 1.0 wt.%. PMCs yarns were collected using a blade collector. Mechanical and electrical properties of polymeric yarns indicated a dependence of CNTs content into yarns. Three areas could be found in fibers: CNTs bundles zones, distributed and aligned CNTs zones, and polymer-only zones. PMCs yarns with 0.5 wt.% CNTs concentration were found with a homogenous nanotube dispersion and axial alignment in polymeric yarn, ensuring load transfer on the polymeric matrix to CNTs, increasing the elastic modulus up to 27 MPa, and a maximum electrical current of 1.8 mA due to a good polymer–nanotube interaction.

Kenaf fiber reinforced chemically functionalized styrene-acrylonitrile composites

“…34 GF/SAN composites 35 have been simulated for their potential for a boat rib component and fracture of fiber reinforced SAN composites has been modelled by acoustic emission (AE) technique. 36 Although the present study is on short fiber reinforced CF-SAN composites, however, a few reported SAN matrix composites reinforced with nano reinforcements [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] have been noted, as follows: Composites of wood blocks impregnated SAN matrix reinforced with nano clay[37 and references therein] have been developed that have been further reinforced with modified TiO 2 38 or SiO 2 39 or both. 40,41 In continuation of montmorillonite (MMT) reinforced SAN composites, 42,43 nano clay, 44 nano diamond 44 and CF nanotube 45,46 reinforced SAN composites have been reported.…”