Polymer-Carbon Nanotube Composites

Understanding the properties of polymer carbon nanotube (CNT) composites is the key to these materials finding new applications in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to electronics, aerospace and biomedical/bioengineering. Polymer-carbon nanotube composites provides comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the preparation, characterisation, properties and applications of these technologically interesting new materials.Part one covers the preparation and processing of composites of thermoplastics with CNTs, with chapters covering in-situ polymerization, melt processing and CNT surface treatment, as well as elastomer and thermoset CNT composites. Part two concentrates on properties and characterization, including chapters on the quantification of CNT dispersion using microscopy techniques, and on topics as diverse as thermal degradation of polymer/CNT composites, the use of rheology, Raman spectroscopy and multi-scale modelling to study polymer/CNT composites, and CNT toxicity. In part three, the applications of polymer/CNT composites are reviewed, with chapters on specific applications such as in fibres and cables, bioengineering applications and conductive polymer CNT composites for sensing.With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Polymer-carbon nanotube composites is an essential reference for scientists, engineers and designers in high-tech industry and academia with an interest in polymer nanotechnology and nanocomposites. - Provides comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the preparation, characterisation and properties of these technologically interesting new materials - Reviews the preparation and processing of composites of thermoplastics with CNTs, covering in-situ polymerization, melt processing and CNT surface treatment - Explores applications of polymer/CNT composites such as in fibres and cables, bioengineering applications and conductive polymer CNT composites for sensing

Contributor contact details Introduction to polymer-carbon nanotube composites Part I: Preparation and processing of polymer-carbon nanotube composites Chapter 1: Polyolefin-carbon nanotube composites by in-situ polymerization Abstract: 1.1 Introduction 1.2 In-situ polymerization techniques for polyolefin-CNT composites 1.3 Polymer architecture by metallocene catalysis 1.4 Polyethylene-CNT composites 1.5 Polypropylene-CNT composites 1.6 Conclusion and future trends Chapter 2: Surface treatment of carbon nanotubes via plasma technology Abstract: 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Carbon nanotube surface chemistry and solution-based functionalization 2.3 Plasma treatment of carbon nanotubes 2.4 Summary Chapter 3: Functionalization of carbon nanotubes for polymer nanocomposites Abstract: 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Non-covalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes with polymers 3.3 Covalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes with polymers 3.4 Conclusion 3.5 Acknowledgements Chapter 4: Influence of material and processing parameters on carbon nanotube dispersion in polymer melts Abstract: 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Fundamentals of melt mixing and filler dispersion 4.3 Review of the literature 4.4 Batch compounding using small-scale mixers 4.5 Continuous melt mixing using extruders 4.6 Conclusion and future trends 4.7 Acknowledgements Chapter 5: High-shear melt processing of polymer-carbon nanotube composites Abstract: 5.1 Introduction 5.2 High-shear processing technique 5.3 Polymer nanoblends by high-shear processing 5.4 Polymer-carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites by high-shear processing 5.5 Conclusion and future trends Chapter 6: Injection moulding of polymer-carbon nanotube composites Abstract: 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Background 6.3 Experiment design and materials 6.4 Analysis 6.5 Conclusion 6.7 Appendix: list of units Chapter 7: Elastomer-carbon nanotube composites Abstract: 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Processing 7.3 Structure-property relationships 7.4 Systems with ionic liquids for increased coupling activity 7.5 Hybrid systems based on silica filler 7.6 Conclusion Chapter 8: Epoxy-carbon nanotube composites Abstract: 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Experimental materials and methods 8.3 Chemorheological approach 8.4 Chemorheological analysis of epoxy-CNTs systems 8.5 Properties of epoxy-CNT composites 8.6 Conclusion and future trends Part II: Properties and characterization of polymer-carbon nanotube composites Chapter 9: Quantification of dispersion and distribution of carbon nanotubes in polymer composites using microscopy techniques Abstract: 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Light microscopy 9.3 Transmission electron microscopy 9.4 Conclusion and future trends 9.6 Appendix: list of abbreviations Chapter 10: Influence of thermo-rheological history on electrical and rheological properties of polymer-carbon nanotube composites Abstract: 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Background 10.3 Measuring techniques and materials 10.4 Destruction and formation of electrical and rheological networks 10.5 Influence of processing history 10.6 Conclusion 10.7 Acknowledgements Chapter 11: Electromagnetic properties of polymer-carbon nanotube composites Abstract: 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Electromagnetic wave absorbing CNT composites 11.3 Electromagnetic shielding CNT composites 11.4 Other CNT composites' electromagnetic applications 11.5 Conclusion Chapter 12: Mechanical properties of polymer-polymer-grafted carbon nanotube composites Abstract: 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Grafting of polymers onto CNTs 12.3 Fabrication of composites 12.4 Mechanical properties of polymer composites containing polymer-grafted CNTs 12.5 Conclusion Chapter 13: Multiscale modeling of polymer-carbon nanotube composites Abstract: 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Computational modeling tools 13.3 Equivalent-continuum modeling concepts 13.4 Specific equivalent-continuum modeling methods 13.5 Example: polymer-carbon nanotube composite 13.6 Conclusion and future trends 13.