Dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in PDMS/PB blend

Abstract

In this study, the sequential dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in PDMS/PB (polydimethylsiloxane/polybutene) blends and the change of blend morphology by the dispersion of CNTs were investigated by rheological and morphological observations. The dispersion of CNTs into PDMS/PB blend was accomplished by the dilution of the CNT master (2 wt.% CNT in PDMS) in PDMS/PB blend using an extensional mixer. The morphological study shows that under the extensional flow, CNTs in the dispersed CNT master phase are mainly broken up by tip-streaming and the continuous pinching-off of PDMS drops during morphology evolution enhances the dispersion of CNT. It has been shown that CNTs can be disentangled as in the case of dispersing CNTs in a Boger fluid. Rheological data and TEM observations show that it is not simply a mixing of two phases and the CNTs in the master phase can be dispersed in the single CNT level.