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- ItemMelt-mixed PP/MWCNT composites: Influence of CNT incorporation strategy and matrix viscosity on filler dispersion and electrical resistivity(Basel : MDPI, 2019) Pötschke, Petra; Mothes, Fanny; Krause, Beate; Voit, BrigitteSmall-scale melt mixing was performed for composites based on polypropylene (PP) and 0.5–7.5 wt % multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to determine if masterbatch (MB) dilution is a more effective form of nanofiller dispersion than direct nanotube incorporation. The methods were compared using composites of five different PP types, each filled with 2 wt % MWCNTs. After the determination of the specific mechanical energy (SME) input in the MB dilution process, the direct-incorporation mixing time was adjusted to achieve comparable SME values. Interestingly, the electrical resistivity of MB-prepared samples with 2 wt % MWCNTs was higher than that of those prepared using direct incorporation—despite their better dispersion—suggesting more pronounced MWCNT shortening in the two-step procedure. In summary, this study on PP suggests that the masterbatch approach is suitable for the dispersion of MWCNTs and holds advantages in nanotube dispersion, albeit at the cost of slightly increased electrical resistivity.
- ItemHybrid conductive filler/polycarbonate composites with enhanced electrical and thermal conductivities for bipolar plate applications(Manchester, NH : Wiley, 2019) Naji, Ahmed; Krause, Beate; Pötschke, Petra; Ameli, AmirConductive polymer composites (CPCs) with high electrical and thermal conductivities are demanded for bipolar plates of fuel cells. In this work, CPCs of polycarbonate (PC) filled with carbon nanotube (CNT), carbon fiber (CF), graphite (G), and their double and triple hybrids were prepared using solution casting method followed by compression molding. The results showed that the electrical percolation thresholds for the PC-CNT and PC-CF were ~1 wt% and ~10 wt%, respectively, while no clear threshold was found for PC-G composites. Addition of 3–5 wt% CNT improved the electrical conductivity of PC-CF and PC-G systems up to 6 orders of magnitude and enhanced the thermal conductivity as much as 65%. The results of triple hybrid CPCs (with constant loading of 63 wt%) indicated that the combination of highest electrical and thermal conductivities is achieved when the CF and CNT loadings were near their percolation thresholds. Therefore, a triple filler system of 3 wt% CNT, 10 wt% CF, and 50 wt% G resulted in a composite with the through-plane and in-plane electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity values of 12.8 S/cm, 8.3 S/cm, and 1.7 W/m•K, respectively. The results offer a combination of properties surpassing the existing values and suitable for high-conductivity applications such as bipolar plates. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3189–3198, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers.
- ItemNanofiller dispersion, morphology, mechanical behavior, and electrical properties of nanostructured styrene-butadiene-based triblock copolymer/CNT composites(Basel : MDPI, 2019) Staudinger, Ulrike; Satapathy, Bhabani K.; Jehnichen, DieterA nanostructured linear triblock copolymer based on styrene and butadiene with lamellar morphology is filled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of up to 1 wt% by melt compounding. This study deals with the dispersability of the MWCNTs within the nanostructured matrix and its consequent impact on block copolymer (BCP) morphology, deformation behavior, and the electrical conductivity of composites. By adjusting the processing parameters during melt mixing, the dispersion of the MWCNTs within the BCP matrix are optimized. In this study, the morphology and glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the hard and soft phase are not significantly influenced by the incorporation of MWCNTs. However, processing-induced orientation effects of the BCP structure are reduced by the addition of MWCNT accompanied by a decrease in lamella size. The stress-strain behavior of the triblock copolymer/MWCNT composites indicate higher Young’s modulus and pronounced yield point while retaining high ductility (strain at break ~ 400%). At a MWCNT content of 1 wt%, the nanocomposites are electrically conductive, exhibiting a volume resistivity below 3 × 103 Ω·cm. Accordingly, the study offers approaches for the development of mechanically flexible functional materials while maintaining a remarkable structural property profile.
- ItemMelt mixed PCL/MWCNT composites prepared at different rotation speeds: Characterization of rheological, thermal, and electrical properties, molecular weight, MWCNT macrodispersion, and MWCNT length distribution(Oxford : Elsevier Science, 2013) Pötschke, Petra; Villmow, Tobias; Krause, BeateComposites of poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and 0.5 wt.% multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were prepared by melt-mixing in a conical twin-screw micro-compounder by varying the rotation speed between 25 and 400 rpm at constant mixing time and temperature. The state of dispersion analyzed by light microscopy was improved with increasing rotation speed but levels off starting at about 100 rpm. PCL molecular weight as well as crystallization and melting behavior did show only insignificant difference when varying the rotation speed. Concerning melt rheological properties, storage modulus G′ and complex viscosity η* at 0.1 rad/s increased up to a rotation speed of about 75 rpm illustrating improved dispersion. When further increasing the speed G′ and η* decreased which was attributed to more pronounced nanotube shortening as quantified by TEM measurements. Both effects - improved dispersion and nanotube shortening - are also reflected in the electrical resistivity values of compression molded samples which show a minimum of resistivity at the rotation speed of 75 rpm corresponding to a specific mechanical energy input of 0.47 kWh/kg. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- ItemThermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of melt-mixed polypropylene composites containing mixtures of carbon-based fillers(Basel : MDPI, 2019) Krause, Beate; Rzeczkowski, Piotr; Pötschke, PetraMelt-mixed composites based on polypropylene (PP) with various carbon-based fillers were investigated with regard to their thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity. The composites were filled with up to three fillers by selecting combinations of graphite nanoplatelets (GNP), carbon fibers (CF), carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon black (CB), and graphite (G) at a constant filler content of 7.5 vol%. The thermal conductivity of PP (0.26 W/(m·K)) improved most using graphite nanoplatelets, whereas electrical resistivity was the lowest when using multiwalled CNT. Synergistic effects could be observed for different filler combinations. The PP composite, which contains a mixture of GNP, CNT, and highly structured CB, simultaneously had high thermal conductivity (0.5 W/(m·K)) and the lowest electrical volume resistivity (4 Ohm·cm).
- ItemThe influence of matrix viscosity on MWCNT dispersion and electrical properties in different thermoplastic nanocomposites(Oxford : Elsevier Science, 2012) Socher, Robert; Krause, Beate; Müller, Michael T.; Boldt, Regine; Pötschke, PetraComposites of MWCNTs having each three different levels of matrix viscosity with five different polymers (polyamide 12, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyetheretherketone and low density polyethylene) were melt mixed to identify the general influence of matrix viscosity on the electrical properties and the state of MWCNT dispersion. Huge differences in the electrical percolation thresholds were found using the same polymer matrix with different viscosity grades. The lowest percolation thresholds were always found in the composites based on the low viscosity matrix. The state of primary MWCNT agglomerate dispersion increased with increasing matrix viscosity due to the higher input of mixing energy. TEM investigations showed nanoagglomerated structures in the low viscosity samples which are obviously needed to achieve low resistivity values. The effect of nanotube shortening was quantified using two different viscosity grades of polycarbonate. Due to the higher mixing energy input the nanotube shortening was more pronounced in the high viscosity matrix which partially explains the higher percolation threshold. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- ItemThe influence of the blend ratio in PA6/PA66/MWCNT blend composites on the electrical and thermal properties(Basel : MDPI, 2019) Krause, Beate; Kroschwald, Lisa; Pötschke, PetraIt is known that the percolation threshold of polyamide 6 (PA6)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites is higher than that of PA66/MWCNT composites under the same mixing conditions and melt viscosity. A series of blends of PA6 and PA66 containing 1 wt % MWCNTs have been prepared to investigate this phenomenon. At contents up to 20 wt % PA66, the blends were not electrically conductive. The electrical resistivity dropped to 109 Ohm∙cm for PA66/PA6 30/70 blends. The resistivity was 105 Ohm∙cm at higher PA66 contents. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the thermal behavior of blends. The glass transition temperature was almost constant for all blend compositions, indicating that the amorphous phases are miscible. The MWCNT addition influenced the crystallization of PA66 much more than the PA6 crystallization. A heterogeneous crystallization of the polyamide in PA66/PA6 blends took place, and the MWCNTs were mainly localized in the earlier crystallizing PA66 phase. Thus, the formation of the nanotube network and thus the electrical volume resistivity of the PA6/PA66 blends with 1 wt % MWCNTs is significantly influenced by the crystallization behavior. In PA66/PA6 blends up to 60 wt %, the more expensive PA66 can be replaced by the cheaper PA6 while retaining its electrical properties
- ItemNanocomposites with p-and n-type conductivity controlled by type and content of nanotubes in thermosets for thermoelectric applications(Basel : MDPI, 2020) Kröning, Katharina; Krause, Beate; Pötschke, Petra; Fiedler, BodoIn this work, composites based on epoxy resin and various carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were studied regarding their thermoelectric properties. The epoxy composites were prepared by infiltration of preformed CNT buckypapers. The influence of different types of CNTs on the Seebeck coefficient was investigated, namely lab-made and commercially available multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), lab-made nitrogen doped MWCNTs (N-MWCNT) and commercially available single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). It was found that only by varying the lab-made MWCNT content could both n-and p-type composites be produced with Seebeck coefficients between -9.5 and 3.1 µV/K. The incorporation of N-MWCNTs resulted in negative Seebeck coefficients of -11.4 to -17.4 µV/K. Thus, the Seebeck coefficient of pure SWCNT changed from 37.4 to -25.5 µV/K in the epoxy/1 wt. % SWCNT composite. A possible explanation for the shift in the Seebeck coefficient is the change of the CNTs Fermi level depending on the number of epoxy molecules on the CNT surface. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- ItemCarbon Nanotubes Hybrid Hydrogels for Environmental Remediation: Evaluation of Adsorption Efficiency under Electric Field(Basel : MDPI, 2021) Cirillo, Giuseppe; Curcio, Manuela; Madeo, Lorenzo Francesco; Iemma, Francesca; De Filpo, Giovanni; Hampel, Silke; Nicoletta, Fiore PasqualeThe performance of Carbon Nanotubes hybrid hydrogels for environmental remediation was investigated using Methylene Blue (MB), Rhodamine B (RD), and Bengal Rose (BR) as model contaminating dyes. An acrylate hydrogel network with incorporated CNT was synthesized by photo-polymerization without any preliminary derivatization of CNT surface. Thermodynamics, isothermal and kinetic studies showed favorable sorption processes with the application of an external 12 V electric field found to be able to influence the amount of adsorbed dyes: stronger interactions with cationic MB molecules (qexp and q12exp of 19.72 and 33.45 mg g−1, respectively) and reduced affinity for anionic RD (qexp and q12exp of 28.93 and 13.06 mg g−1, respectively) and neutral BR (qexp and q12exp of 36.75 and 15.85 mg g−1, respectively) molecules were recorded. The influence of pH variation on dyes adsorption was finally highlighted by reusability studies, with the negligible variation of adsorption capacity after five repeated sorption cycles claiming for the suitability of the proposed systems as effective sorbent for wastewater treatment.
- ItemDispersability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in polycarbonate-chloroform solutions(Oxford : Elsevier Science, 2014) Staudinger, Ulrike; Krause, Beate; Steinbach, Christine; Pötschke, Petra; Voit, BrigitteThe dispersion of commercial multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, Nanocyl™ NC7000) in chloroform and in polycarbonate (PC)-chloroform solutions was investigated by variation of the polymer concentration, MWCNT amount and sonication time and compared with PC/MWCNT composites, which were processed by melt mixing, subsequently dissolved in chloroform and dispersed via sonication under the same conditions. The sedimentation behaviour was characterised under centrifugal forces using a LUMiSizer® separation analyser. The space and time resolved extinction profiles as a measure of the stability of the dispersion and the particle size distribution were evaluated. Sonication up to 5 min gradually increases the amount of dispersed particles in the solutions. A significant improvement of the MWCNT dispersion in chloroform was achieved by the addition of PC indicating the mechanism of polymer chain wrapping around the MWCNTs. In dispersions of melt mixed PC/MWCNT composites the dispersion of MWCNTs is significantly enhanced already at a low sonication time of only 0.5 min due to very efficient polymer wrapping during the melt mixing process. However, the best dispersion quality does not lead to the highest electrical conductivity of thin composite films made of these PC/MWCNT dispersions.