Fabrication and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/carbon nanotube melt-spinning composites fiber

A composite fiber based on carbon nanotube (CNT) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was prepared by melt-spinning. Structural features and the mechanical performances of the PVA/CNT composite fiber were investigated as a function of draw condition. Initial moduli and tensile strengths of the drawn composite fibers are much higher than those of undrawn composite fiber. It is identified from XRD and 2D XRD that the composite fiber exhibits enhanced crystallinity and orientation degree with increasing the draw ratio. Accordingly, finger-like pores distributed along the axial direction homogeneous on the melt-spinning PVA fiber surface. After dry and hot-drawn, the hydrophobicity of PVA/CNT composites fiber decreased gradually.