Preparation of EG-g-MWCNTs and Antistatic Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Nanocomposites

Abstract

Antistatic Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) materials had been successfully prepared through solution-blending incorporation of ethylene glycol-graft-Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (EG-g-MWCNTs). MWCNTs were first carboxylated and then esterified with EG to yield EG-g-MWCNTs. The FT-IR spectra, TEM images, Raman spectra, TGA curves and electrical conductivity were investigated, which indicated that the agglomeration degree of MWCNTs has been reduced and the conductivity keeps as high as 4.278 S/cm after the modification of EG. On the other hand, EG-g-MWCNTs dispersed well in EG, which was one of the synthetic monomers for PET, and thus ensured its good compatibility with PET. As a result, the electrical conductivity of PET/EG-g-MWCNTs nanocomposites (0.1 wt%) was seven orders of magnitude higher than pure PET and reached the antistatic level.