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TECHNICAL TALKS 2011
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17 March 2011
Carbon Nanotube (CNT)/Polymer Composites
Speaker: Prof Li Lin, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NTU
Singapore Polytechnic Graduates Guild
Technical Talk @ PRIS AGM
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been highly attractive materials due to their unique structure and extraordinary mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. CNTs are ideal reinforcing fillers for fabrication of high strength and lightweight polymer composites. At the same time, electrically conductive composites can be produced. Two key factors for development of high performance CNT/polymer composites are (i) homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in a selected polymer matrix and (ii) strong interfacial adhesion between CNTs and the polymer matrix. Since commercial raw CNTs have a great tendency to form bundles due to strong van der Waals attraction between individual tubes, it is extremely difficult to disperse CNTs into a polymer matrix. Functionalization of CNTs is an effective way to prevent carbon nanotubes from aggregating and to enhance interfacial adhesion between CNTs and a given polymer. As a result, overall properties such as mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of CNT/polymer composites will be enhanced significantly. In this talk, several case studies for fabrication of novel CNT/polymer composites will be introduced, including CNT/PA6 composites, CNT/LCP composites, Ag-CNT/PP composites, etc.