Morphological, electrical, and mechanical properties of multiwall carbon nanotube/polysilsesquioxane composite

Abstract

Abstract Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was modified with mixed acid. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes was prepared. The multiwalled carbon nanotube/diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A‐bridged polysilsesquioxane (MWCNT/DGEBA‐PSSQ) composites was fabricated. The improvement of the affinity between MWCNT and the polymer matrix by acid modification was studied. SEM and TEM microphotographs confirm that acid‐modified MWCNT exhibits better dispersion than the unmodified MWCNT in DGBEA‐PSSQ. The mechanical and electrical properties of acid‐modified MWCNT/DGBEA‐PSSQ composites have been investigated. The tensile strength of the material increased 150.6% (with 1.0 wt % acid‐modified MWCNT). The flexural strength of the PSSQ increased 68.4% (with 0.6 wt % acid‐modified MWCNT). The Young's modulus of the material increased 189.3% (with 1.0 wt % acid‐modified MWCNT). The flexural modulus of the PSSQ increased 219.1% (with 0.8 wt % acid‐modified MWCNT). The surface and volume electrical resistivities of MWCNT/DGEBA‐PSSQ composites decreased 6 orders when 2.0 wt % of unmodified MWCNT was added to the PSSQ matrix. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008