Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composite: A Nano-enabled Continuous Fiber

Abstract

A homogeneous mixture of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was prepared. A nano-enabled composite fiber was continuously spun using this homogeneous mixture through a single-hole spinneret into a coagulation bath containing methanol. The physical properties and the intermolecular interactions of the fiber were studied by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared analysis suggests that there is an interfacial interaction between PVA, EVOH, and MWCNT through the functional groups attached to them along the molecular chains of the fibers. Tensile strength was measured. The careful removal of a small amount of PVA produced a 20% increase in tensile strength.