Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, flexibility, increased stiffness, high tensile strength and light weight so that MWCNTs have been employed as additives or nanofillers to enhance the properties of polymeric materials. Several studies have shown that the polymer matrix could degrade due to environmental factors, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, moisture, mechanical stress, and/or a combination of them. Such degradation can lead to surface accumulation, protrusion and potential release of nanomaterials. However, only few studies have quantified the rate of nanomaterials’ release. Here we present a study of effect of environmental factors on degradation of MWCNTs containing polymer composite material, where chemical and morphological changes of the samples were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Furthermore, in order to determine the rate of nanomaterials’ release, we prepared <sup>14</sup>C-labelled MWCNTs. Following the weathering treatment, the released materials were collected and quantified by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The results show that degradation of polymer matrix due to weathering resulted in removal of MWCNTs encapsulating matrix, leading to release of detectable amount of MWCNTs to environment.

Quantitative evaluation of nanomaterial release from multi-walled carbon nanotubes epoxy composite after weathering treatment

254th National Meeting (2017)

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