Mechanical and electrical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) loaded with carbon nanotubes and carbon nanopowder

Abstract

Two groups of polymer nanocomposite samples were synthesized. One of them was Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) loaded with different concentrations of carbon nanopowder (CNP), while the other was PVC loaded with different concentrations of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The dependence of the tensile mechanical parameters, rheological properties and the dc electrical conductivity on the concentration of either filler was investigated. Results revealed a lower electrical and mechanical percolation threshold of CNTs than CNP. Concentration of CNTs of 1 wt% increases the elastic modulus 2.3 times greater than CNP at a concentration of 2 wt%. The storage modulus and the complex viscosity studied at a frequency of 0.1 Hz had the same behavior as the elastic modulus. The glass transition temperature was slightly changed with the addition of either nanofiller. The behavior of the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity was found to be temperature independent in the studied range for composites containing CNTs, while composites containing CNP showed an activated one at relatively high temperatures. At concentrations in the percolation region of either CNP or CNTs, a jump region in the I-V characteristics was observed with a highest slope of 36.35 at 1 wt% of CNTs. Otherwise the conduction mechanism of the charge carriers was determined and found to be Ohmic.

Influence of MWCNTs in Improving the Optical, DC Conductivity, and Mechanical Properties of CMC/PAAM Blends

“…In addition, raising T increases r 1 and r 2 , especially for 1 wt% CNT incorporation. Aljaafari et al reported that CNT/PVC composites demonstrated non‐ohmic behavior, whereas Ferrara et al reported ohmic behavior in the range of −10 to 10 V for LLDPE/CNT nanocomposite films. The value of r is used to report the conduction mechanism in polymers .…”

Multifunctionalized Carbon Nanotubes Polymer Composites: Properties and Applications

“…However, homogenous dispersion of CNTs is difficult due to the van der Waals interactions between the CNTS, consequently leading to the formation of agglomerations (Song et al 2013). In this respect, the melt-mixing method is the preferred method of fabricating CNT-filled polyvinyl chloride (Farsheh et al 2011;Aljaafari et al 2012). The MWCNT-filled polyvinyl chloride mixed matrix membrane is suitable for gas separation applications, as well as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titrations (Abu-Abdeen 2012).…”

“…This is due to the high conductivity and the aspect ratio of CNTs (Ma et al 2014a, b). Consequently, the percolation threshold concentration and nanocomposites conductivity determined by polymer type, synthesis technique, aspect ratio of CNTs, the extrication of CNTs agglomerates, uniform spatial distribution of single CNTs and the level of alignment (Aljaafari et al 2012). Another considerable factor, which influenced the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites is the chemical functionalization of CNTs.…”

“…The improvement of thermal conductivity in CNTs volume content was attained following a minimum value. Thus, the addition of CNTs influenced the heat flow through the composite (Aljaafari et al 2012). The experimental values obtained for poly(vinyl chloride)/CNT composites were utilized to estimate the thermal conductivity of the CNT fillers (Suemori et al 2013).…”

Experimental study of the processing parameters of polymer conductive semicrystalline polymer composites with carbon black

“…[37][38][39] However, there is not a unified criterion about the best processing parameters, neither a generalized criterion about the method for preparing the composites. Some authors have demonstrated that the melt mixing dispersion stand out the positive temperature effect in comparison with the solution mixing for CB polymer composites, 40 whereas others 41 have evidenced that processing conditions influence the sensibility detection to organic vapors.…”