Study on polycarbonate/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite produced by melt processing

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were filled into polycarbonate (PC) by large scale extruder, and some studies were carried out on as-produced composite. The results showed PC composite containing 1 wt.% of MWCNTs had a tensile strength 4.5% higher than neat PC, and the elastic modulus of PC/MWCNTs composite increased obviously with MWCNTs loadings. The electrical resistivity measurements indicated a percolation of MWCNTs near 5 wt.% (3.4 vol.%) for the composite. Either the decrease in the fluidity of the composite melts with the increase of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) loadings or the unexpected shortening of CNTs in extrusion was supposed to have weakened the effects of CNTs as a reinforcing agent or a conductive filler.