Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) remain one of the most efficient reinforcing material for enhanced mechanical and electrical properties. In this study, the effects of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) fillers on mechanical, structural, and electrical properties of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/MWCNTs composites were studied. The PMMA/MWCNTs composites, containing varying MWCNTs concentration of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt%, were prepared by a solution casting method. The mechanical properties of the composites such as tensile strength, elongation, Young modulus, tear resistance, fracture energy, impact strength, and hardness were investigated. Results showed that the mechanical properties of the composites were enhanced significantly. At 0.5 wt% MWCNTs, the tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, hardness, fracture energy and impact strength increased by 397%, 567%, 89%, 27%, 12%, and 36%, respectively, while the Young modulus decreased by 26% compared to pure PMMA polymer sample. Both the dc electrical conductivity and the activation energy increased with increased concentration of MWCNTs. From the electrical conductivity measurements, the percolation threshold was found to equal ~ 0.55 wt% MWCNTs. Based on the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, enhancement of mechanical and electrical properties is attributed to the formation of covalent bonds between polymer strands and MWCNTs. Moreover, a mechanism was proposed to describe the influence of MWCNTs on electrical and mechanical properties of PMMA/MWCNTs composites.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abd-Elnaiem AM, Hussein SI, Assaedi HS et al (2020) Fabrication and evaluation of structural, thermal, mechanical and optical behavior of epoxy–TEOS/MWCNTs composites for solar cell covering. Polym Bull. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-020-03301-5
Aguilar MR, San Román J (2019) Introduction to smart polymers and their applications. In: Smart polymers and their applications, pp 1–11. Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857097026.1
Arash B, Wang Q, Varadan VK (2014) Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube/polymer composites. Sci Rep 4:6479. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep06479
Ash BJ, Rogers DF, Wiegand CJ, Schadler LS, Siegel RW, Benicewicz BC, Apple T (2002) Mechanical properties of Al2O3/polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites. Polym Compos 23:1014–1025. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.10497
Avilés F, Oliva AI, Ventura G, May-Pat A, Oliva-Avilés AI (2019) Effect of carbon nanotube length on the piezoresistive response of poly (methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites. Eur Polym J 110:394–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2018.12.002
Blond D, Valerie B, Manuel R, Kevin PR, Valeria N, Werner JB, Jonathan NC (2006) Enhancement of modulus, strength, and toughness in poly (methyl methacrylate)-based composites by the incorporation of poly (methyl methacrylate)-functionalized nanotubes. Adv Funct Mater 16:1608–1614. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.200500855
Chayad FA, Akram RJ, Noor MJ (2015) Effect of MWCNT addition on improving the electrical conductivity and activation energy of electrospun nylon films. Karbala Int J Modern Sci 1:187–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kijoms.2015.10.004
Chen L, Pang XJ, Yu ZL (2007) Study on polycarbonate/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite produced by melt processing. Mater Sci Eng, A 457:287–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2007.01.107
ASTM D882-18 (2018) Standard test method for tensile properties of thin plastic sheeting, ASTM International, West Conshohocken. www.astm.org. https://doi.org/10.1520/D0882-18
Das M, Ray D, Bandyopadhyay S, Banerjee S, Bandyopadhyay NR, Basumallik A (2011) Thermogravimetric and resistivity study of Ex situ and In situ poly (methyl methacrylate)/carboxylic acid group functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes composites. J Appl Polym Sci 120:2954–2961. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.33320
Deep N, Mishra P (2018a) Fabrication and characterization of thermally conductive PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposites. Mater Today Proceedings 5:28328–28336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2018.10.117
Deep N, Mishra P (2018b) Evaluation of mechanical properties of functionalized carbon nanotube reinforced PMMA polymer nanocomposite. Karbala Int J Modern Sci 4:207–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kijoms.2018.02.001
Du J, Bai J, Cheng H (2007) The present status and key problems of carbon nanotube based polymer composites. Express Polym Lett 1:253–273. https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2007.39
Faraguna F, Vidović E, Jukić A (2018) Influence of chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes on their dispersibility in alkyl methacrylate polymer matrix. J Appl Polym Sci 135:46113. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.46113
Hsu JC, Wenxin C, Fuqian Y, Tsong-Jen Y, Sanboh L (2017) Absorption behavior of poly (methyl methacrylate)–multiwalled carbon nanotube composites: effects of UV irradiation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 19:7359–7369. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CP08738H
Huang ZM, Zhang YZ, Kotaki M, Ramakrishna S (2003) A review on polymer nanofibers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol 63:2223–2253. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00178-7
Huang YL, Ma CCM, Yuen SM, Chuang CY, Kuan HC, Chiang CL, Wu SY (2011) Effect of maleic anhydride modified MWCNTs on the morphology and dynamic mechanical properties of its PMMA composites. Mater Chem Phys 129:1214–1220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2011.06.020
Hussein SI, Abd-Elnaiem AM, Asafa TB, Jaafar HI (2018) Effect of incorporation of conductive fillers on mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of epoxy resin composite. Appl Phys A 124:475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-1890-0
Jia Z, Wang Z, Xu C, Liang J, Wei B, Wu D, Zhu S (1999) Study on poly (methyl methacrylate)/carbon nanotube composites. Mater Sci Eng, A 271:395–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(99)00263-4
Jindal P, Sain M, Kumar N (2015) Mechanical characterization of PMMA/MWCNT composites under static and dynamic loading conditions. Mate Today Proc 2:1364–1372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2015.07.055
Kaufman JG (2001) Fracture resistance of aluminum alloys: notch toughness, tear resistance, and fracture toughness. ASM International. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34262925
Khutoryanskiy VV, Georgiou TK (eds) (2018) Temperature-responsive polymers: chemistry, properties, and applications. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119157830
Kim KH, Jo WH (2008) Improvement of tensile properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) by dispersing multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with poly (3-hexylthiophene)-graft-poly (methyl methacrylate). Compos Sci Technol 68:2120–2124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2008.03.008
Kumar S, Sharma A, Tripathi B, Srivastava S, Agrawal S, Singh M, Awasthi K, Vijay YK (2010) Enhancement of hydrogen gas permeability in electrically aligned MWCNT-PMMA composite membranes. Micron 41:909–914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micron.2010.05.016
Landry CJ, Coltrain BK, Brady BK (1992) In situ polymerization of tetraethoxysilane in poly (methyl methacrylate): morphology and dynamic mechanical properties. Polymer 33:1486–1495. https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-3861(92)90126-H
Layek RK, Samanta S, Chatterjee DP, Nandi AK (2010) Physical and mechanical properties of poly (methyl methacrylate)-functionalized graphene/poly (vinylidine fluoride) nanocomposites: piezoelectric β polymorph formation. Polymer 51:5846–5856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2010.09.067
Li L, Lizzul C, Kim HA, Sacolick I, Morris JE (1993) Electrical, structural and processing properties of electrically conductive adhesives. IEEE Trans Compon Hybrids Manuf Technol 16:843–851. https://doi.org/10.1109/33.273683
Logakis E, Pandis C, Pissis P, Pionteck J, Pötschke P (2011) Highly conducting poly (methyl methacrylate)/carbon nanotubes composites: investigation on their thermal, dynamic-mechanical, electrical and dielectric properties. Compos Sci Technol 71:854–862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2011.01.029
Makireddi S, Shivaprasad S, Kosuri G, Varghese FV, Balasubramaniam K (2015) Electro-elastic and piezoresistive behavior of flexible MWCNT/PMMA nanocomposite films prepared by solvent casting method for structural health monitoring applications. Compos Sci Technol 118:101–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2015.08.014
Mammeri F, Teyssandier J, Connan C, Le Bourhis E, Chehimi MM (2012) Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube–PMMA based hybrid coatings: the importance of surface chemistry. RSC Adv 2:2462–2468. https://doi.org/10.1039/C2RA00937D
Meysami AH, Razavi H, Golpayegani IF, Bagheri V (2017) The effect of volume fraction of single-walled carbon nanotubes on natural frequencies of polymer composite cone-shaped shell made from poly (Methyl Methacrylate). Adv Mater Sci Eng 2017:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7345438
Mir SM, Jafari SH, Khonakdar HA, Krause B, Pötschke P, Qazvini NT (2016) A promising approach to low electrical percolation threshold in PMMA nanocomposites by using MWCNT-PEO predispersions. Mater Des 111:253–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2016.08.073
Mittal V (2014) Functional polymer nanocomposites with graphene: a review. Macromol Mater Eng 299:906–931. https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.201300394
Mu M, Teblum E, Figiel Ł, Nessim GD, McNally T (2018) Correlation between MWCNT aspect ratio and the mechanical properties of composites of PMMA and MWCNTs. Mater Res Express 5:045305. https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/aab82d
Münker TJAG, Van De Vijfeijken SECM, Mulder CS, Vespasiano V, Becking AG, Kleverlaan CJ, Group C, Dubois L, Karssemakers LHE, Milstein DMJ, Depauw PRAM (2018) Effects of sterilization on the mechanical properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) based personalized medical devices. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 81:168–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2018.01.033
Nakason C, Pechurai W, Sahakaro K, Kaesaman A (2005) Rheological, mechanical and morphological properties of thermoplastic vulcanizates based on NR-g-PMMA/PMMA blends. Polym Adv Technol 16:592–599. https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.634
Nawar AM, El-Mahalawy AM (2019) Simple processed semi-transparent Schottky diode based on PMMA-MWCNTs nanocomposite for new generation of optoelectronics. Synth Met 255:116102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synthmet.2019.116102
Nezakati T, Seifalian A, Tan A, Seifalian AM (2018) Conductive polymers: opportunities and challenges in biomedical applications. Chem Rev 118:6766–6843. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00275
Pahlevanzadeh F, Bakhsheshi-Rad HR, Ismail AF, Aziz M, Chen XB (2019) Development of PMMA-Mon-CNT bone cement with superior mechanical properties and favorable biological properties for use in bone-defect treatment. Mater Lett 240:9–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2018.12.049
Pothukuchi S, Li Y, Wong CP (2004) Development of a novel polymer–metal nanocomposite obtained through the route of in situ reduction for integral capacitor application. J Appl Polym Sci 93:1531–1538. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.20626
Prasher R, Phelan PE, Bhattacharya P (2006) Effect of aggregation kinetics on the thermal conductivity of nanoscale colloidal solutions (nanofluid). Nano Lett 6:1529–1534. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl060992s
Sancaktar E, Bai L (2011) Electrically conductive epoxy adhesives. Polymers 3:427–466. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym3010427
Snarskii AA, Shamonin M, Yuskevich P (2020) Effective medium theory for the elastic properties of composite materials with various percolation thresholds. Materials 13:1243. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13051243
Stipho HD (1998) Effect of glass fiber reinforcement on some mechanical properties of autopolymerizing polymethyl methacrylate. J Prosthet Dent 79(5):580–584. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3913(98)70180-5
Su PG, Wang CS (2007) In situ synthesized composite thin films of MWCNTs/PMMA doped with KOH as a resistive humidity sensor. Sensor Actuat B Chem 124:303–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2006.12.034
Tee DI, Mariatti M, See CH, Chong KF (2007) Study on the electrical property of silver (Ag) nanoparticles filled epoxy composites for the application of electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) in electronic packaging. In: 2006 thirty-first IEEE/CPMT international electronics manufacturing technology symposium, pp 496–505. IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/IEMT.2006.4456501
Wang C, Yu B, Fan Y, Ormsby RW, McCarthy HO, Dunne N, Li X (2019) Incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes to PMMA bone cement improves cytocompatibility and osseointegration. Mater Sci Eng, C 103:109823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2019.109823
Yuan M, Okamoto K, Bronstein HA, Luscombe CK (2012) Constructing regioregular star poly (3-hexylthiophene) via externally initiated Kumada catalyst-transfer polycondensation. ACS Macro Lett 1:392–395. https://doi.org/10.1021/mz3000368
Yuen SM, Ma CCM, Chuang CY, Yu KC, Wu SY, Yang CC, Wei MH (2008) Effect of processing method on the shielding effectiveness of electromagnetic interference of MWCNT/PMMA composites. Compos Sci Technol 68:963–968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2007.08.004
Zhang C, Li A, Zhao YH, Bai SL, Zhang YF (2018) Thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of graphene foam filled poly (methyl methacrylate) composite prepared by in situ polymerization. Compos B Eng 135:201–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.10.026
Zhi CY, Bando Y, Wang WL, Tang CC, Kuwahara H, Golberg D (2008) Mechanical and thermal properties of polymethyl methacrylate-BN nanotube composites. J Nanomater 2008:1–5. https://doi.org/10.1155/2008/642036
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ali, N.A., Hussein, S.I., Asafa, T.B. et al. Mechanical Properties and Electrical Conductivity of Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Composites. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Sci 44, 1567–1576 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-020-00948-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-020-00948-7