SWCNT were lightly grafted with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) via reversible-addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with number average molecular weights (Mn) of 22600, 26000, and 35700 g/mol and mixed with chemically identical PMMA matrix melts of Mn 14700, 26600, and 97200 g/mol to prepare polymer-nanocomposites. When the graft molecular weight equals or exceeds the matrix value, there is a moderate to steep increase in the Tg due to the favorable interaction between the matrix and brush polymers. In contrast, when the matrix lengths above the graft PMMA, there is little to no change in Tg with SWCNT loadings. Thermogravimetric analyses showed that 6 wt% of PMMA were grafted onto the nanotube surface for all molecular weights of grafted PMMA. Raman spectra and near-infrared spectra show that all PMMA grafted SWCNT samples have retained its inherent electronic properties.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes-<i>graft</i>-PMMA/PMMA composites

244th National Meeting (2012)

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Single-walled carbon nanotubes-graft-PMMA/PMMA composites