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    The Localization Behavior of Different CNTs in PC/SAN Blends Containing a Reactive Component
    (Basel : MDPI, 2021-3-1) Gültner, Marén; Boldt, Regine; Formanek, Petr; Fischer, Dieter; Simon, Frank; Pötschke, Petra
    Co-continuous blend systems of polycarbonate (PC), poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN), commercial non-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or various types of commercial and laboratory functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and a reactive component (RC, N-phenylmaleimide styrene maleic anhydride copolymer) were melt compounded in one step in a microcompounder. The blend system is immiscible, while the RC is miscible with SAN and contains maleic anhydride groups that have the potential to reactively couple with functional groups on the surface of the nanotubes. The influence of the RC on the localization of MWCNTs and SWCNTs (0.5 wt.%) was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-filtered TEM. In PC/SAN blends without RC, MWCNTs are localized in the PC component. In contrast, in PC/SAN-RC, the MWCNTs localize in the SAN-RC component, depending on the RC concentration. By adjusting the MWCNT/RC ratio, the localization of the MWCNTs can be tuned. The SWCNTs behave differently compared to the MWCNTs in PC/SAN-RC blends and their localization occurs either only in the PC or in both blend components, depending on the type of the SWCNTs. CNT defect concentration and surface functionalities seem to be responsible for the localization differences.
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    Ultralow percolation threshold in polyamide 6.6/MWCNT composites
    (Barking : Elsevier, 2015) Krause, Beate; Boldt, Regine; Häußler, Liane; Pötschke, Petra
    When incorporating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) synthesised by the aerosol-CVD method using different solvents into polyamide 6.6 (PA66) by melt mixing an ultralow electrical percolation threshold of 0.04. wt.% was found. This very low threshold was assigned to the specific characteristic of the MWCNTs for which a very high aspect ratio, a good dispersability in aqueous surfactant dispersions, and relatively low oxygen content near the surface were measured. The investigation of the composites by transmission electron microscopy on ultrathin cuts as well as by scanning electron microscopy combined with charge contrast imaging on compression moulded plates illustrated a good MWCNT dispersion within the PA66 matrix and that the very high aspect ratio of the nanotubes remained even after melt processing. Additionally, the thermal behaviour of the PA66 composites was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showing that the addition of only 0.05. wt.% MWCNT leads to an increase of the onset crystallization temperature of 11. K.