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Dispersability and particle size distribution of CNTs in an aqueous surfactant dispersion as a function of ultrasonic treatment time
The dispersability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was assessed by studying the sedimentation of CNTs dispersed in aqueous surfactant solutions at different ultrasonication treatment times using a LUMiSizer® apparatus under centrifugal forces. Different commercially available multiwalled CNTs, namely Baytubes® C150P, Nanocyl™ NC7000, Arkema Graphistrength® C100, and FutureCarbon CNT-MW showing quite different kinetics were compared. In addition, the particle size distributions were analyzed using dynamic light scattering and centrifugal separation analysis. The best dispersabilities were found for Nanocyl™ NC7000 and FutureCarbon CNT-MW; to prepare stable dispersions of Baytubes® C150P or Graphistrength® C100 five times the energy was needed. As a result of the centrifugal separation analysis, it was concluded that Nanocyl™ NC7000 and Baytubes® C150P were dispersed as single nanotubes using ultrasonic treatment whereas small agglomerates or bundles are existing in dispersions containing FutureCarbon CNT-MW and Graphistrength® C100. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Methods to characterize the dispersability of carbon nanotubes and their length distribution
Two main properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) materials are discussed in this contribution. First, a method to characterize the dispersability of CNT materials in aqueous surfactant solutions in presented, which also allows conclusions towards the dispersability in other media, like polymer melts. On the other hand it is shown, how the length of CNTs before and after processing, e.g., after melt mixing with thermoplastics, can be quantified. Both methods are illustrated with examples and the practical relevance is shown. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Influence of dry grinding in a ball mill on the length of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their dispersion and percolation behaviour in melt mixed polycarbonate composites
Ball milling of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the dry state is a common way to produce tailored CNT materials for composite applications, especially to adjust nanotube lengths. For NanocylTM NC7000 nanotube material before and after milling for 5 and 10h the length distributions were quantified using TEM analysis, showing decreases of the mean length to 54% and 35%, respectively. With increasing ball milling time in addition a decrease of agglomerate size and an increase of packing density took place resulting in a worse dispersability in aqueous surfactant solutions. In melt mixed CNT/polycarbonate composites produced using masterbatch dilution step, the electrical properties, the nanotube length distribution after processing, and the nano- and macrodispersion of the nanotubes were studied. The slight increase in the electrical percolation threshold in the melt mixed composites with ball milling time of CNTs can be assigned to lower nanotube lengths as well as the worse dispersability of the ball milled nanotubes. After melt compounding, the mean CNT lengths were shortened to 31%, 50%, and 66% of the initial lengths of NC7000, NC7000-5h, and NC7000-10h, respectively. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.