Siloxane Core-Modified Organo Soluble Novel Polyimide/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

Abstract

Siloxane core-modified polyimides (PI)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposites were designed and developed. The confinement of segmental motion of the PI chain due to high dispersion uniformity of the MWCNTs caused the increment in the glass transition temperature (T _g ) and remarkable elevated thermal stability. All the PIs could afford better solubility with high dielectric constants of 3.5–5.9 and low water absorptions of 0.42–0.68%. These PIs emitted a strong blue fluorescent at 380 nm, assigning the structural confirmation of PI matrix. Heterogeneous morphology of MWCNT/PI nanocomposites was evidenced by SEM and TEM images, resulted from the incorporation of MWCNT.

Keywords:

• Absorbance
• Dielectric constant
• Fluorescence
• Glass transition temperature
• MWCNT
• Polyimide
• Solubility and morphology
• Thermal stability

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors acknowledge Dr. Jayavel, Director, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, India for providing DSC and SEM analytical facility. The author also acknowledges Mr. K. Srinivasan and Ms. T. Elakkya, for their vital support in photoluminescence analysis, Department of Chemistry, Anna University, Chennai, India.

Notes

T_g: Glass transition temperature; T₁₀ (°C):10% weight loss temperature;.

T₂₀ (°C): 20% weight loss temperature; LOI: Limiting Oxygen index.

++ :Soluble; +− : Soluble on heating; −− : Insoluble.

ACN: Acetonitrile; NMP: N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; DMAc: N,N-Dimethylacetamide; DMF: N,N-Dimethylformamide; DMSO: Dimethylsulphoxide; THF: Tetrahydrofuran; CHCl₃: Chloroform.

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