Nanomechanical and tribological properties of carbon nanotube/polyvinyl butyral composites

Abstract

The surface and subsurface mechanical and tribological properties of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNTs)/polyvinyl butyral (PVB) composites have been studied. Hardness and elastic modulus were obtained from nanoindentation, whereas the coefficient of friction of the composites was obtained using a nanoscratch method. The results show a clear impact of the percentage of CNTs filling on the monitored properties. Considerable improvement in the scratch resistance is obtained by the addition of CNTs and a maximum increase in nanomechanical properties is found at intermediate levels of CNTs filling. Creep studies revealed that a higher loading rate results in a greater primary creep deformation and leads to an increase of the total creep deformation, whereas the addition of MWCNTs affects the elastic recovery of the PVB matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1950–1959, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers