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The preparation of carbon nanotube/poly(ethylene oxide) composites using amphiphilic block copolymers

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Abstract

Polymer/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites were prepared by using amphiphilic block copolymers as dispersant. First, MWCNTs were wrapped with amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous solution. Poly(ethylene oxide) was selected as the hydrophilic block because of its strong affinity with water while one of the following polymers: poly(ethylene), poly(butadiene), poly(styrene), poly(propylene oxide), or poly(thiophene) was used as the hydrophobic block of the copolymers. The dispersions were characterized by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy along with UV–Visible adsorption and dynamic light scattering. Based on the results, we could assess the effect on CNT dispersion quality of both, the molar mass of copolymers, the nature of the hydrophobic block and the length of hydrophilic block. The crystallization behavior of composites prepared from these dispersions was investigated. Results were related to the dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge financial support from ARKEMA group and Region Aquitaine. We thank Dr. Philippe Poulin, Dr. Cecile Zakri and Maryse Maugey from CRPP-CNRS-Bordeaux for useful discussions on DLS characterization methods, Christine Labrugère from ICMCB-CNRS-Bordeaux for XPS analysis and Bordeaux Imaging Center for TEM observations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, IPB-ENSCBP, Université de Bordeaux, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, 33607, Pessac Cedex, France

    Chantal Semaan, Gilles Pecastaings & Alain Soum

  2. Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 33607, Pessac Cedex, France

    Michèle Schappacher

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  1. Chantal Semaan
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  2. Gilles Pecastaings
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Correspondence to Alain Soum.

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Semaan, C., Pecastaings, G., Schappacher, M. et al. The preparation of carbon nanotube/poly(ethylene oxide) composites using amphiphilic block copolymers. Polym. Bull. 68, 465–481 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-011-0569-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-011-0569-x

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