Metal catalyst residues in carbon nanotubes decrease the thermal stability of carbon nanotube/silicone composites

An anomalous decrease in the thermal stability of silicone was observed when carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added as fillers. The decreased thermal stability is found to result from the residues of cobalt nanoparticles in CNTs, whereas CNTs synthesized with other metal catalysts do not show such a phenomenon. The analysis of thermal degradation products indicates that CNT fillers do not change the mechanism of the thermal degradation of silicone but cobalt nanoparticles within CNTs may accelerate the degradation through free radical generation. Radical scavengers such as hindered amines and impurity-free CNTs, or removal of cobalt nanoparticles by acid treatment, can mitigate the accelerated thermal degradation.