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Thermal and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes based polysulfone nanocomposites

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Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-reinforced polysulfone (PSU) nanocomposites were prepared through solution mixing of PSU and different weight percent of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Thermal properties of nanocomposites were characterized using thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). TGA studies revealed an increase in thermal stability of the PSU/MWCNTs nanocomposites, which is due to the hindrance of the nanodispered carbon nanotubes to the thermal transfer in nanocomposites and also due to higher thermal stability of CNTs. Morphological properties of nanocomposites were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The influence of CNTs loading on electrical properties of PSU/MWCNTs nanocomposites was studied by the measurement of AC and DC resistivity. Dielectric study of nanocomposites was carried out at different frequencies (10 Hz–1 MHz) by using LCR meter. An increase in dielectric constant and dielectric loss was observed with increase in CNTs content, which is due to the interfacial polarization between conducting CNTs and PSU.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support of this work provided by Kalpana Chawla Space Technology Cell, IIT–Kharagpur is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, India

    Lalatendu Nayak, M. Rahaman, D. Khastgir & T. K. Chaki

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  1. Lalatendu Nayak
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  2. M. Rahaman
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  3. D. Khastgir
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  4. T. K. Chaki
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Correspondence to T. K. Chaki.

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Nayak, L., Rahaman, M., Khastgir, D. et al. Thermal and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes based polysulfone nanocomposites. Polym. Bull. 67, 1029–1044 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-011-0479-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-011-0479-y

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