Carbon Nanotube-Polycarbonate Composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes were investigated as high-performance reinforcement for polymer composites. The inherently superior mechanical properties of nanotubes coupled with the high interfacial surface areas available to dissipate energy suggest that nanotube-polymer composites would have excellent potential as high-strength, impact-resistant materials. The multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) produced by arc and chemical vapor deposition and the double-walled nanotubes (DWNT) produced by the arc process were investigated as reinforcement in polycarbonate thermoplastic. The as-grown non-polar nanotubes did not disperse readily in high molecular weight polycarbonates. However, a significant increase in compressive strength was achieved by using uniformly dispersed nanotubes in low molecular weight polycarbonate and also in an optimum ratio of low and high molecular weight polycarbonate. The compressive strength enhancement for the same polymer matrix by the different nanotubes is dependent on the nanotube's purity, the inherent properties (strength and dimension) of the nanotubes, and polymer compatability.