Effect of Carbon Nanotube Loading on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Pure and Pyrolyzed Polyacrylonitrile Aerogel

Thermal and mechanical properties of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) aerogel nanocomposites containing multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) prepared by using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method were evaluated and presented in this report. Subsequent drying and pyrolysis resulted in free-standing monolithic carbon aerogel nanocomposites with uniform dispersions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Significant improvements were achieved in the mechanical and thermal properties of the PAN aerogels by incorporating carboxylated CNTs. For example, the compressive modulus of the PAN aerogels extends by a factor of 16 with the introduction of 25 wt.% of the CNTs. In addition, the CNTs improve the thermal conductivity of the aerogels, e.g., five orders of magnitude enhancement in thermal conductivity with 25 wt.% nanotubes loading were observed.