Bulk polymerized polystyrene in the presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The in situ bulk polymerization method was applied to synthesize composites of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and polystyrene (PS) under ultrasonication to open pi-bonds in the MWNTs. Morphology of the composite products was studied by both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermal properties and molecular weight of the PS synthesized in the presence of the MWNTs were examined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), respectively. The MWNTs were observed to play an important role as initiator consumers during the polymerization reaction. Electrical conductivity of a film-type sample of the PS/MWNT nanocomposite was found to increase with increased amount of MWNTs added, following the percolation theory.