Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) grown by chemical vapor deposition retain the residual catalyst particles from which the growth occurred, which are considered a detriment to MWCNTs’ performance, especially electrical conductivity. The first direct measurements have been made of the electrical transport through the catalyst cap into the MWCNT using nanoscale 2-point-probe to determine the effects of the catalyst particle’s size and the diameter ratio with its associated MWCNT on the electrical transport through the catalyst cap as compared to the inherent conductivity of the MWCNT. The MWCNT diameter is independent of the catalyst size, but the ratio of the catalyst cap diameter to MWCNT diameter (DC/DNT) determines the conduction mechanism. Where DC/DNT is greater than 1 the resulting I–V curve is near ohmic, and the conduction through the catalyst ( RC+NT) approaches that of the MWCNT (RNT); however, when the DC/DNT < 1 the I–V curves shift to rectifying and RC+NT > > RNT. The experimental results are discussed in relation to current crowding at the interface between catalyst and nanotube due to an increased electric field.

Effects of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) type and flow type (shear and elongational flow) on the electrical conductivity of polycarbonate (PC)/MWCNT nanocomposites were investigated. Two different MWCNTs produced a huge difference in electrical conductivity in an injection molded PC/MWCNT nanocomposite. It was observed that MWCNTs having a higher aspect ratio provide much lower electrical conductivity in injection molded PC/MWCNT nanocomposites while the conductivities of compression molded samples from two different MWCNTs were the same. We found that this is due to a difference in the deformability of the two MWCNTs. Nanocomposite samples prepared at a higher extensional rate and shear rate showed lower electrical conductivity. This is attributed to flow induced orientation of the MWCNTs. The experimental results were discussed in relation to variation in the tube–tube contact due to the change of the MWCNT orientation.

탄소나노튜브(MWCNT)는 그 구조적 특징에 따라 열적, 기계적 안정성이 우수하며 고분자 매트릭스 내에 소량만 첨가하여도 향상된 물성을 얻을 수 있다. 그러나 탄소나노튜브를 고분자 복합체에 응용 시 분산이 필수적으로 요구되기 때문에 전처리 기술이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 PEO 막의 CO2 투과도 향상을 위해 PEO/EVA 혼합물에 산처리를 통해 표면에 친수성기가 도입된 다중벽 탄소나노튜브(MWCNT-COOH)를 첨가하여 PEO/EVA/MWCNT 혼성막을 제조하였다. 제조된 혼성막의 특성을 FT-IR, TGA, SEM 분석으로 확인하였다.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposite was prepared by direct melt mixing to investigate the effect of the shear rate on the surface resistivity of the nanocomposites. In this study, an experiment was carried out to observe the shear induced orientation of the MWCNT in the polymer matrix using a very simple melt flow indexer with various loads. The compression-molded, should be eliminated. MWCNT/PC nanocomposite sample exhibited lower percolation thresholds (at 0.8 vol%) and higher electrical conductivity values than those of samples extruded by capillary and injection molding. Shear induced orientation of MWCNT was observed via scanning electron microscopy, in the direction of flow in a PC matrix during the extrusion process. The surface resistivity rose with increasing shear rate, because of the breakdown of the network junctions between MWCNTs. For real applications such as injection molding and the extrusion process, the amount of the MWCNT in the composite should be carefully selected to adjust the electrical conductivity.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy composites were fabricated using shear mixing and sonication. The mechanical, viscoelastic, thermal, and electrical properties of the fabricated specimens were measured and evaluated. From the images and the results of the measurements of tensile strengths, the specimens having 0.6 wt% nanotube content showed better dispersion and higher strength than those of the other specimens. The Young's moduli of the specimens increased as the nanotube filler content was increased in the matrix. As the concentrations of nanotubes filler were increased in the composite specimens, their storage and loss moduli also tended to increase. The specimen having a nanotube filler content of 0.6 wt% showed higher thermal conductivity than that of the other specimens. On the other hand, in the measurement of thermal expansion, specimens having 0.4 and 0.6 wt% filler contents showed a lower value than that of the other specimens. The electrical conductivities also increased with increasing content of nanotube filler. Based on the measured and evaluated properties of the composites, it is believed that the simple and efficient fabrication process used in this study was sufficient to obtain improved properties in the specimens.

The conducting polymer-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by template polymerization of aniline and pyrrole on the surface of MWCNTs in order to develop the novel electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. The conducting polymer phases formed on the surface of MWCNTs were confirmed by field emission-scanning electron microscopy and field emission-transmission electron microscopy. Both permittivity and permeability were significantly improved for the conducting polymer-coated MWCNTs due to the intrinsic electrical properties of MWCNTs and the conducting properties of coated polymers. The electromagnetic waves were effectively absorbed based on the permittivity nature of conducting polymer and MWCNTs preventing the secondary interference from reflecting the electromagnetic waves. The highly improved EMI shielding efficiency was also obtained for the conducting polymer-coated MWCNTs showing the synergistic effects by combining MWCNTs and the conducting polymers.

A method of functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) at room temperature using dry ozone gas is described. The resulting MWNT were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Combined to these analyses and solubility in liquids, it could be concluded that the dry ozone gas exposure introduces polar functional groups such as carboxylic groups to MWNT similar to acidic modification of MWNT. Particularly, the stable dispersion of MWNT in water after ozone treatment above a critical level could be obtained, implying potential bio-application. The hydrophilic functional groups on the MWNT introduced by ozone oxidation were helpful in improving the interaction with functional groups in PA6 such as -NH2 and -CONH- resulting in improved mechanical properties.