The characteristics of carbon nanotube‐reinforced poly(phenylene sulfide) nanocomposites

Abstract

Multiwall carbon nanotube reinforced poly (phenylene sulfide) (PPS) nanocomposites were successfully fabricated through melt compounding. Structural, electrical, thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were systematically studied as a function of carbon nanotube (CNT) fraction. Electrical conductivity of the polymer was dramatically enhanced at low loading level of the nanotubes; the electrical percolation threshold lay between 1 and 2 wt % of the CNTs. Rheological properties of the PPS nanocomposites also showed a sudden change with the CNT fraction; the percolation threshold was in the range of 0-0.5 wt % of CNTs. The difference in electrical and rheological percolation threshold was mainly due to the different requirements needed in the carbon nanotube network in different stages. The crystallization and melting behavior of CNTfilled PPS nanocomposites were studied with differential scanning calorimetry; no new crystalline form of PPS was observed in the nanocomposites, but the crystallization rate was reduced. The thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were also investigated, and both of them showed significant increase with CNT fraction. For 5 wt % of CNT-filled PPS composite, the onset of degradation temperature increased by about 13.5 C, the modulus increased by about 33%, and tensile strength increased by about 172%.

Morphological characterization and modelling of electrical conductivity of multi-walled carbon nanotube/poly(p-phenylene sulfide) nanocomposites obtained by twin screw extrusion

“…Han et al [24] found a electrical percolation threshold at 3 wt.% of MWNTs in PPS after direct melt compounding and injection molding. Yu et al [7] founds these threshold value between 1 and 2 wt.%, and a higher percolation threshold of 5 wt.% was shown by Yang et al [22], using melt compounding and hot pressing for compounding and specimen preparation, respectively.…”

“…The commonly used methods to produce thermoplastic CNT nanocomposites are in-situ polymerization, solution route, and melt compounding [7][8][9]. Melt processing is the preferred method for large scale compounding of thermoplastics [10], as it is based on conventional technologies like twin-screw extrusion and injection molding.…”

Towards the development of poly(phenylene sulphide) based nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical, electrical and tribological properties

“…To extend its structural applications, different fillers such as glass fibres [13], inorganic nanoparticles (e.g. IF-WS2) [14,15], carbon nanofibers (CNFs) [16] and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) [17,18] have been melt-blended with PPS matrix. It has been reported [17] that the mechanical properties of PPS/MWCNT composites improve only marginally at low nanofiller contents.…”

“…IF-WS2) [14,15], carbon nanofibers (CNFs) [16] and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) [17,18] have been melt-blended with PPS matrix. It has been reported [17] that the mechanical properties of PPS/MWCNT composites improve only marginally at low nanofiller contents. An effective way to attain improved performance would be the formation of covalent linkages at the CNT-PPS interface; however, the insolubility of this polymer in common organic solvents [19] and its lack of terminal end groups make difficult its functionalization, hence the grafting to other molecules.…”

Carbon nanotube buckypaper reinforced polymer composites: a review

“…According to literature [97] PPS-based composites reinforced with 5.0 wt.% of MWCNTs increased thermal decomposition temperature by about 14˚C compared to neat PPS. Díez-Pascual et al [98] found similar results for SWCNT reinforced PEEK composites at 1.0 wt.% loading.…”