Bent-shape effects of multi-walled carbon nanotube on the electrical conductivity and rheological properties of polycarbonate/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Abstract

In this study, polycarbonate (PC)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nancomposites have been prepared by pretreating MWCNT solutions with ultrasonication. We demonstrate that the electrical conductivity and rheological properties of PC/MWCNT nanocomposites strongly depend on the mesoscopic shape factor (l(sp)/d), which is represented by the ratio between the static bending persistence length (l(sp)) and outer diameter (d) of the MWCNT. The electrical conductivity of PC/MWCNT nanocomposites increases linearly with increasing (l(sp)/d)(2) and the percolation threshold of PC/MWCNT nanocomposites decreases linearly with increasing (l(sp)/d)(2) of MWCNTs. The storage modulus of PC/MWCNT nanocomposites increases linearly with increasing (l(sp)/d)(2) of MWCNTs at all frequency ranges. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.