Even if the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their derivatives are commonly used as reinforcing phase in composite materials, also in commercial products, their tendency to agglomerate generally determines a scarce dispersion, thus not maximizing the effect due to the second phase. In this article, a perfect dispersion of highly entangled nanotubes was achieved by using a very simple approach: exploiting the dispersing effect of a low-cost polymer, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), coupled with standard ultrasound sonication. Several dispersion approaches were tested in order to develop a consistent and widely applicable dispersion protocol. The tape casting technology was subsequently used to produce 100 to 300 μm thick PVB-matrix composite tapes, reinforced by multiwall CNTs dispersed according to the optimized protocol. Their mechanical properties were evaluated, and a simple model was used to demonstrate that the effective dispersion of CNTs is the key to obtain significantly improved properties.

Polyvinyl butyral-based composites with carbon nanotubes: Efficient dispersion as a key to high mechanical properties / Lavagna, L.; Marchisio, S.; Merlo, A.; Nistico', R.; Pavese, M.. - In: POLYMER COMPOSITES. - ISSN 0272-8397. - ELETTRONICO. - 41:9(2020), pp. 3627-3637. [10.1002/pc.25661]

Polyvinyl butyral-based composites with carbon nanotubes: Efficient dispersion as a key to high mechanical properties

Lavagna L.;Merlo A.;Nistico' R.;Pavese M.
2020

Abstract

Even if the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their derivatives are commonly used as reinforcing phase in composite materials, also in commercial products, their tendency to agglomerate generally determines a scarce dispersion, thus not maximizing the effect due to the second phase. In this article, a perfect dispersion of highly entangled nanotubes was achieved by using a very simple approach: exploiting the dispersing effect of a low-cost polymer, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), coupled with standard ultrasound sonication. Several dispersion approaches were tested in order to develop a consistent and widely applicable dispersion protocol. The tape casting technology was subsequently used to produce 100 to 300 μm thick PVB-matrix composite tapes, reinforced by multiwall CNTs dispersed according to the optimized protocol. Their mechanical properties were evaluated, and a simple model was used to demonstrate that the effective dispersion of CNTs is the key to obtain significantly improved properties.
2020
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
polymer composites.pdf

non disponibili

Tipologia: 2a Post-print versione editoriale / Version of Record
Licenza: Non Pubblico - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione 3.27 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.27 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
PVB_R1 _MP_RN_LL_AM_final.pdf

Open Access dal 27/05/2021

Tipologia: 2. Post-print / Author's Accepted Manuscript
Licenza: PUBBLICO - Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 1.73 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.73 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2846354