Elsevier

Polymer

Volume 47, Issue 26, 8 December 2006, Pages 8556-8561
Polymer

Reinforcement of polymers with carbon nanotubes. The role of an ordered polymer interfacial region. Experiment and modeling

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2006.10.014Get rights and content

Abstract

Significant increases in the Young's modulus of nanotube–polymer composites have been associated with the formation of an ordered polymer layer coating the nanotubes. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is known to display nanotube-induced ordering. It is used here as a model matrix to investigate how the polymer coating influences the mechanical reinforcement of the composite material. Young's modulus and calorimetry measurements were carried out on films of PVA-based composites reinforced with different types of nanotubes. An unmistakable correlation between polymer ordering and reinforcement was found. This is supported by the introduction of a model capable of establishing, on quantitative grounds, how the ordered phase affects the increase in the Young's modulus. Rather than acting as intrinsically stiffer reinforcing agents, our results suggest that the major role played by the nanotubes in improving the mechanical properties of composites is to nucleate an ordered polymer coating. It is the presence of this stiff ordered phase that dominates the reinforcement mechanism.

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

JNC wishes to thank IRCSET for financial support. MSF thanks SFI for financial support.

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