Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Polylactide Composites for Electrical Engineering—Fabrication and Electrical Properties

Abstract

In the article, both the processes of manufacturing highly homogeneous polylactide resin/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their properties are described. Regarding the application of carbon nanotubes polymer composites, one of the most important problems to solve is obtaining good dispersion of the filler in the polymer matrix. Preparation of polylactide/multiwall CNTs composites by quick polymer solidification and freezing the state of the dispersion of the nanotubes in the polymer solution is described. The method we used employs an increase in viscosity (carried out rapidly) of the sonicated polymer solution containing the CNTs by spray deposition. Good dispersion of the nanotubes is confirmed by electron microscopy. The obtained nanocomposites exhibit a low percolation threshold for electrical conductivity (above 0.25% by weight). The described method leads to obtaining an electrical conductive surface on virtually any material and reduces the small amount of an expensive filler (CNTs) needed to achieve good electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the carbon nanotubes used in the fabrication process of the composites were obtained using the liquid-source chemical-vapor deposition (LSCVD) synthesis method.

The Electromagnetic Shielding Properties of Biodegradable Carbon Nanotube–Polymer Composites

“…The same reagent was used as the solvent to prepare the solution of CNTs and the PLA. The carbon nanotubes used in the described experiments were synthesized in our laboratory using the liquid source chemical vapor deposition (LSCVD) technique [3,14]. The apparatus was a three-zone oven with a temperature controller for each zone, connected to a liquid catalyst solution feeding system and a vapor carrying gas source.…”

“…Slowing the process is significant enough to make the process of composite fabrication more convenient and less challenging. The time needed until the sonication effect is lost is significantly longer, and thus working with the spray-drying technique is possible [3].…”

“…Using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the electro-conductive phase (filler) guarantees the acquisition of material comprising both electrostatic [3,4] and electromagnetic shielding. Carbon nanotubes, apart from their tremendous mechanical and thermal properties [5][6][7], have great electrical properties [8] and thus are a natural choice for making conductive polymer composites [3,9,10]. To obtain nanocomposites with the desired properties, there is a need for proper fabrication method usage.…”

“…Using different filler and polymer types is also acceptable as long as solution formation is possible. The method also allows for the formation of a conductive network of filler particles with a very low filler content, 0.25% by weight as the percolation threshold [3] since that characterizes the shielding capabilities of the obtained material.…”

Effect of Extremely Short-Sized MWCNT as Additive Material in High Surface Area Activated Carbon and Its Enhanced Electrical LIC Performance

“…However, few studies have focused on the microcrystalline state. In particular, the use of modified CNTs to increase the conductivity of the electrodes is emerging as a new research field [ 36 , 37 ]. The mechanism that affects the energy-storage ability of microcrystalline carbon in its capacitive coupling state is still unclear [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ].…”