Improvement of thermal and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube composites through chemical functionalization

Abstract

Chemically functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes were incorporated into a polymer matrix by in situ polymerization, to improve the transfer of mechanical load through a chemical bond, which was demonstrated by Raman and infrared spectroseopies. The resulting composite shows higher storage modulus (E) and tensile strength than existing similar composites, with only 1 wt % of functionalized nanotubes. E' at 90 degreesC is increased by an outstanding 1135% and the glass transition temperature is exceptionally raised by congruent to40 degreesC.