Interaction of Carbon Nanotubes with Some Polymers

Abstract

Microscopical, differential scanning colorimetry (DSC), and X-ray structural investigations of solution crystallized carbon nanotube (CNT) composites with linear polyethylene (LPE), isotactic polypropylene (iPP), polybutene-1 (PB-1), and nylon 6 (PA6) disclosed varying degrees of surface interaction and nucleation effect of CNT in these polymers and formation of oriented shish-kebab overgrowths on the CNT ropes in LPE and PA6. The character of the attraction and orientation forces at the CNT-polymer interface is discussed.

Keywords:

• carbon tube–polymer interaction
• polymer overgrowth on carbon nanotubes
• crystallization and melting of some polymers on carbon nanotubes

Acknowledgments

The authors of this paper would like to thank the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MSM 7088352101) for support. The authors also would like to thank to Prof. P. H. Geil, University of Illinois, for help and support.