Non-solution treatment method of carbon nanotubes to prepare strong and tough polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

This paper demonstrated a simple approach for the development of advanced Nylon 12 composites by selectively modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Prior mixing with Nylon 12, MWCNTs were modified by a nonsolvent process namely plasma treatment in order to improve its dispersion in the nylon matrix and enhance the interfacial adhesion by increasing the compatibility. A new combination of plasma treatment have been found through extensive investigations that led the nanocomposites to be extremely strong and tough even at moderately low amount of CNTs loading. Addition of only 1 wt % of modified MWCNTs, improved the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation at break of the nanocomposites by ~ 65%, 61% and 68%, respectively. The FESEM images of fracture surfaces of nanocomposites showed excellent adhesion and dispersion of CNTs within the matrix, indicating the high merit of our selective plasma treatment process.