DEVELOPMENT OF POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES REINFORCED BY CARBON NANOTUBES WITH 3-D NETWORKS

With unique structure and transport properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted much interest in developing polymer nanocomposites with exceptional mechanical and multi-functional characteristics. However, if these nanofillers are to be utilized as effective reinforcements in polymer composites, proper dispersion and good interfacial bonding between the filler and polymer matrix have to be guaranteed. Therefore, many different surface treatment and functionalization processes were employed to improve the dispersion and interfacial adhesion of CNTs with polymer resins. One of the major disadvantages of utilizing these techniques is that they can cut CNTs into pieces and create many surface defects on CNT sidewalls, resulting in the decreased aspect ratios of nanomaterials and severe degradation on their mechanical and transport properties. The objective of this work is to employ carbon-based nanofillers with new morphologies, i.e., interconnected CNT foam (CF), as functional reinforcement for polymer nanocomposites. The foams with 3-D structures can absorb a variety of polymers by more than 50 times of their own weight with stabilized networks, ultimately eliminating the problems associated with the dispersion and agglomeration of CNTs in polymers. The effect of CF on the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) will be presented. The application of these nanocomposites as sensors to monitor the motions like finger bending, breathing, will also be presented.