A Comparison of the Effect of Hydroxyl Modified Carbon Nanotubes and Graphenes on the Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Their Polyurethane Composites

Abstract:

Hydroxyl modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (OH-MWCNT)/ polyurethane (PU) and graphene nanosheets (GNS)/PU composites were prepared by dispersing the OH-MWCNT and GNS at different wt % in to the PU matrix. It was found that the electrical percolation threshold of the GNS/PU composite is much higher compared to that of OH-MWCNT/PU and also the electrical conductivity of the OH-MWCNT/PU composite is higher than the GNS/PU composite in the same level of filler content. This may be due to the two composites having different electrical conduction mechanisms: The OH-MWCNT/PU composite represents a three dimensional conduction system while, the GNS/PU composite represents a two dimensional conduction system. The improvement in the electrical conductivity with the incorporation of GNS as a filler in the composite is far lower than what theoretically expected. It is also observed that the tensile strength of the OH-MWCNT/PU composite is higher compared to the GNS/PU in the same level filler content.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 622-623)
• Pages: 781-786
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.622-623.781
• Online since: December 2012
• Authors: Sarojini Swain, Subhendu Bhattacharya, Ram Avatar Sharma, Lokesh Chaudhari
• Keywords: Composite, Conductivity, Graphenes, MWCNT, OH-MWCNT, Percolation Threshold, Polyurethane (PU)

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