engleski

Nanostructured and functional polymer materials based on styrene-methacrylate copolymers and chemically modified carbon nanotubes

The nanostructured and functional polymer materials based on alkyl-methacrylates, styrene, amino-methacrylate comonomers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were synthesised and prepared ex-situ by polymer solution mixing and in-situ by radical copolymerization in solution. MWCNT were modified through introduction of alkyl-ester groups up to C12, in order to achieve miscibility at the molecular level and as well as dispersity and distribution of carbon nanotubes through the polymer matrix. The obtained polymers and composites were characterized in order to detremine its composition, structure, and special properties targeted towards certain applications such as reduction of noise and vibration level and self-cleaning properties. With a change of the certain alkyl methacrylates (methyl-, hexyl-, dodecyl-, octadecyl-) content in copolymers, changes occur in the mobility of macromolecule segments as well as in the glass transition temperature of the polymer (from –100 to 100 oC), the plasticity/elasticity ratio, and electromagnetic nature – from mostly polar to mostly nonpolar (hydrophobic). The modeling of these properties and determination of interrelationships described by mathematical functions between the reaction-process parameters, bulk and application properties enable the creation of materials with optimal properties for specific applications. Furthermore, chemical cross-linking of copolymers and incorporation of even small quantities of functional comonomers such as dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate leads to the modification of existing and introduction of new properties. As a result, materials of improved mechanical properties, adhesivity, chemical stability and solubility were obtained.

carbon nanotubes; nanostructured and functional polymers

Projekt sufinanciran od HRZZ.