Fabrication of Carbon Multiwall Nanotube/Polymer Composites by Shear Mixing

The dispersion of nanotubes in polymer matrices has been investigated as a means of deriving new and advanced engineering materials. These composite materials have been formed into fibers and thin films and their mechanical and electrical properties determined. The nanotube concentration at which conductivity was initiated (the percolation threshold) varied with host polymer. In poly(propylene), this was as low as 0.05 vol.-%, while higher concentrations were required for polystyrene and particularly for ABS. There was a small increase in elastic modulus and decrease in tensile strength at low nanotube loading, but as the concentration was increased there was a progressive increase in both strength and stiffness.