Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-assisted melt-blending of multi-walled carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were sonicated in the dimethylformamide solution of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). The PVDF-covered MWNTs were then melt-blended with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The dynamic mechanical behavior of various composites was studied. The presence of a small amount of PVDF leads to a significant improvement in the storage moduli of the MWNT/PMMA composites at low temperatures. The storage modulus of a PVDF/MWNT/PMMA composite containing 0.5 wt.% PVDF is almost twice as that of a MWNT/PMMA composite at 50degreesC. However, a further increase in the PVDF content leads to a reduction of the storage modulus. The beneficial effect of PVDF diminishes at higher temperatures. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.