Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Polyimide Composites

Abstract

Polyimides have a wide range of uses such as aerospace industry fuel cell applications, optic and electronic materials industry due to their outstanding thermal, mechanical and chemical properties. In this study, it was aimed to prepare composite polyimide films with amine tethered multi-walled-carbon nanotube (MWCNT). Firstly, to produce amine functional groups onto the surface of MWNCTs, MWCNTs were reacted with H2SO4/HNO3, thionyl chloride and ethylenediamine, respectively. Then polyamicacid solution was prepared from BTDA and ODA. The functionalized carbon nanotube was added to the PAA solutions with a certain amounts (1%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6%wt.) and followed by stepwise thermal imidization. The thermal stability of the composite polyimide films were enhanced with addition of modified-carbon nanotube since covalent interaction between polyimide based matrix and modified-carbon nanotube happened by imidization reaction. In addition, the mechanical properties of the films were improved.