The Effect of Carbon Nanotube Hydrophobicity on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanocomposites

摘要

Double walled carbon nanotubes (DWNT) were functionalized by reacting methanol, dodecylamine, or octadecylamine with a toluene 2,4-diisocyanate linker through a two-stage reaction procedure. TGA coupled with FTIR analysis of both the decomposition products and the DWNT samples demonstrated that the functionalization procedure was successful and proceeded as expected for all samples. A preliminary investigation of the reinforcing capabilities of the functionalized DWNT in a thermoplastic polyurethane host polymer was then conducted. Tensile testing of the resultant nanocomposites demonstrated that the octadecylamine functionality provided the greatest enhancement in tensile strength and toughness.