Ultra-low Electrical and Rheological Percolation Thresholds in PMMA/Plasma-Functionalized CNTs Nanocomposites

Abstract

Plasma-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (p-MWCNTs) are used to fabricate poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) based nanocomposites with different p-MWCNTs loadings. First, MWCNTs are functionalized by He-dielectric barrier discharge plasma followed by an exposure to NH₃ and then the PMMA/p-MWCNTs nanocomposites are prepared by a phase inversion-based solution method. The rheological and electrical properties of the PMMA/p-MWCNTs nanocomposites are measured. The results showed that the electrical and rheological percolation thresholds appear at a very low value of 0.5 wt.% p-MWCNTs loading. This value is one of the lowest reported percolation thresholds for PMMA/MWCNTs nanocomposites, indicating excellent dispersion state of the p-MWCNTs in PMMA.

Keywords:

• Carbon nanotubes
• Nanocomposites
• Percolation threshold
• Plasma functionalization
• PMMA

Notes

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