Morphology, structure and properties of conductive PS/CNT nanocomposite electrospun mat

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 50; no. 14; pp. 3329 - 3342
• Main Authors: Mazinani, Saeedeh, Ajji, Abdellah, Dubois, Charles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 03.07.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon nanotube; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Nanocomposite electrospun fibers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polystyrene; Technology of polymers; Carbon nanotube; Polystyrene; Nanocomposite electrospun fibers; Electrical conductivity; Electrical properties; Synthetic fiber; Mechanical properties; Electrospinning; Carbon nanotubes; Tensile property; Experimental study; Dimension spectrum; Singlewalled nanotube; Multiwalled nanotube; Morphology; Concentration effect; Styrene polymer; Nanocomposite
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2009.04.070

The morphologies and properties of Polystyrene (PS)/Carbon Nanotube (CNT) conductive electrospun mat were studied in this paper. Nanocomposite fibers were obtained through electrospinning of PS/Di-Methyl Formamide (DMF) solution containing different concentrations and types of CNTs. The dispersion condition of CNTs was correlated to morphologies and properties of nanocomposite fibers. A copolymer as an interfacial agent (SBS, Styrene–butadiene–styrene type) was used to modify the dispersion of CNTs in PS solution before electrospinning. The results showed that the presence of the copolymer significantly enhances CNT dispersion. The fiber diameters varied between 200nm and 800nm depending on CNT type, polymer concentration and copolymer. The final morphological study of the fibers showed that CNT addition caused a decrease in beads formation along fiber axis before percolation threshold. However, addition of CNTs above percolation increased the beads formation, depending on the dispersion condition. The presence of SBS modified the dispersion, reduced the fiber diameter and the number of bead structures. Electrical conductivity measurements on nanocomposite mats of 15–300μm in thickness showed an electrical percolation threshold around 4wt% MWCNT; while the samples containing SBS showed higher values of conductivities below percolation compared to the samples with no compatibilizer. Enhancement in mechanical properties was observed by the addition of CNTs at concentrations below percolation. [Display omitted]