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Effect of CNT-functionalization and processing method on morphology and electrical properties of PS/CNT nanocomposites

Polystyrene/carbon nanotube (PS/CNT) nanocomposites have been widely researched as an attractive material due to good processability and significant enhancement of mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of PS due to CNT addition. In this work emphasis is given on the improvement of CNT dispersion and reducing the electrical percolation threshold by using differently functionalized multiwalled CNT (MWCNT) and applying different nanocomposite preparation methods, namely melt and solution mixing. As fillers, pristine, phenyl propane ester, polystyrene functionalized MWCNTs as well as an in situ synthetized PS/MWCNT masterbatch (containing 10 wt.% pristine MWCNT) were used. The best MWCNT macrodispersion was achieved using the masterbatch, independent of the preparation procedure. When using solution mixing (0.1-1.0 wt. % MWCNTs), the difference in macrodispersion between MWCNTs was less pronounced in comparison to melt mixing (0.1 -5.0 wt. % MWCNTs). Among melt mixed nanocomposites this one prepared by the masterbatch method showed the lowest electrical percolation threshold (0.27 wt. %), while in case of solution mixing all nanocomposites exhibited very low percolation threshold in a similar range (0.05 wt. % < pc < 0.20 wt. %).

Polystyrene ; nanocomposites ; macrodispersion ; percolation threshold

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