Effect of functionalization on the crystallization behavior of mwnt-pbt nanocomposites

Gaurav Mago, Carlos Velasco-Santos, Ana L. Martinez-Hernandez, Dilhan M. Kalyon, Frank T. Fisher

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is tremendous interest in using low loadings of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to enhance the multifunctional properties of polymers, with functionalization often pursued to increase the dispersion and effective reinforcement of MWNTs within the polymer. In our interest to understand the effect of MWNT functionalization on Poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT) crystallization kinetics, morphology and mechanical properties, nanocomposites were fabricated with both as-received and carboxyl group (-COOH) functionalized MWNTs. Initial results indicate as-received and functionalized nanotubes alter the crystallization temperature and crystal size for quiescent samples. In addition, isothermal crystallization studies using an Advanced Rheometric Expansion System (ARES) show that the addition of MWNTs increases the rate of PBT crystallization. However, functionalization was found to decrease the rate of nanocomposite crystallization as compared to nanocomposites samples prepared using pristine MWNTs, suggesting that nanotube functionalization weakens the nucleation effect observed in the nanocomposite samples. These results suggest that semicrystalline polymer nanocomposite crystallization kinetics and morphology can be significantly influenced by nanoparticle functionalization and chemistry. Further study of how these changes impact the rheological and multifunctional properties of semicrystalline nanocomposite systems are ongoing.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)295-300
Number of pages6
JournalMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
Volume1056
StatePublished - 2008
EventNanophase and Nanocomposite Materials V - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: 26 Nov 200730 Nov 2007

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