Polymer Reinforcement with Kevlar-Coated Carbon Nanotubes

Keviar-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been prepared and used as additives to reinforce selected commercially available polymers (polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyvinyl acetate). It was found that the mechanical properties of the nanotube-polymer composites strongly depend on the nature of polymer and on the mass percentage of Kevlar-functionalized nanotubes. The best performance was observed for polyvinyl acetate conposites, which have demonstrated significant improvements in tensile strength (up to 80%) and Young's modulus (up to 173%) at very low loading levels (0.25-0.5 mass %) of Kevlar-functionalized nanotubes. These were compared to both the pure polymer and corresponding pristine nanotube-polymer composites. It was found that the values for the rate of increase in strength and modulus approach the levels expected by the rule of mixtures theory in nanotube-polymer composites, representing an efficient load transfer to the nanotube network in polymer matrix. Thus the Kevlar-coated carbon nanotubes have great potential as additives for the fabrication of various new ultrastrong polymer materials.