Thermal and mechanical properties of phosphorylated multiwalled carbon nanotube/polyvinyl chloride composites

The fabrication of carbon nanotube/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composites and a study of their thermal and mechanical properties are reported. Phosphorylated multiwalled carbon nanotube (p-MWCNT) and pristine MWCNT were used. The MWCNT were embedded in the polymer matrix through melt mixing. The phosphorylation of the MWCNT and their dispersion in the PVC matrix were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Thermal analysis by thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, showed an increase in glass transition temperature and melting temperature for the composites with respect to pure PVC. The modulus of the MWCNT/PVC composites increased while there was a reduction in their tensile strength, indicating a decrease in polymer toughness.

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► Fabrication of MWCNT/p-MWCNT/PVC composites.
► Phosphorylation of the MWCNT and their dispersion in the PVC matrix were studied using SEM, TEM and Raman Spectroscopy.
► Phosphorylation of the MWCNT enhanced the thermal stability of the nanotube.
► The modulus of the MWCNT/PVC composites increased.
► The tensile strength of the MWCNT/PVC composites decreased.