Preparation of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Composites by Polymer Functionalized CNT under Plasma Treatment

The present study presents a novel method for preparing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) grafted with polyacrylicnitrile (PAN) through the process of plasma-induced grafting polymerization. After the plasma grafting process, the MWCNTs were converted into acrylicnitrile modified CNTs (MWCNTs-g-AN), which in reaction with hydroxylamine produced the aminated CNTs (MWCNTs-g-mAN). After the plasma modification process, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopes (XPSs) of a high resolution were used to characterize the functional groups on the surface of the MWCNTs. In addition, observing the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image reveals that a uniform polymer layer is grafted onto the surface of the MWCNTs and the functionalized CNTs showed a better dispersion than the pristine MWCNTs in epoxy resin. Moreover, the addition of a small quantity of the MWCNTs-g-mAN to the nanocomposites showed noticeable enhancements in their electrical conductivity.