Surfactant-assisted processing of carbon nanotube/polymer composites

Interfacial interaction is one of the most critical issues in carbon nanotu be/polymer composites. In this paper the role of nonionic surfactant is inv estigated. With the surfactant as the processing aid, the addition of only 1 wt % carbon nanotubes in the composite increases the glass transition tem perature from 63 degrees C to 88 degrees C. The elastic modulus is also inc reased by more than 30%. In contrast, the addition of carbon nanotubes with out the surfactant only has moderate effects on the glass transition temper ature and on the mechanical properties. This work points to the pathways to improve dispersion and to modify interfacial bonding in carbon nanotube/po lymer composites.