Polymer composites having highly dispersed carbon nanotubes and methods for forming same
View Patent ↗A method of forming carbon nanotube-polymer composites includes the steps of forming a mixture solution including a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a co-solvent. The co-solvent includes an organic solvent and a second solvent being a short chain fluorinated carboxylic acid having a boiling point below 150° C. which is less oxidizing than nitric acid, and is soluble in both the organic solvent and water. The first polymer is mixed with the mixture solution to form a polymer including mixture. The co-solvent is removed from the polymer mixture to form a dispersed nanotube-polymer composite. The second solvent can be trifluoroacetic acid.
1. A method of forming carbon nanotube-polymer composites, comprising the steps of:
forming a mixture solution comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a co-solvent comprising an organic solvent and a second solvent comprising a short chain fluorinated carboxylic acid, said second solvent having a boiling point below 150° C., being less oxidizing than nitric acid, and being soluble in both said organic solvent and water;
mixing at least a first polymer with said mixture solution to form a polymer comprising mixture, and
removing said co-solvent from said polymer comprising mixture to form a dispersed nanotube-polymer composite.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said carbon nanotubes in said nanotube-polymer composite consist essentially of non-functionalized nanotubes.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding at least a second polymer different from said first polymer to said mixture solution.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said first polymer or said second polymer comprises an electrically conducting polymer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second solvent comprises trifluoroacetic acid.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second solvent comprises 1 to 20 volume % of said co-solvent.
7. A method of forming carbon nanotube-polymer composites, comprising the steps of:
forming a mixture solution comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a co-solvent comprising an organic solvent and a second solvent comprising trifluoroacetic acid;
mixing at least a first polymer with said mixture solution to form a polymer comprising mixture, and
removing said co-solvent from said polymer comprising mixture to form a dispersed nanotube-polymer composite.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said trifluoroacetic acid comprises 1 to 20 volume % of said co-solvent.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said carbon nanotubes in said nanotube-polymer composite consist essentially of non-oxidized nanotubes.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said co-solvent consists of said organic solvent and said trifluoroacetic acid.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said carbon nanotubes in said nanotube-polymer composite consist essentially of non-oxidized nanotubes.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said co-solvent consists of said organic solvent and said second solvent, and said second solvent comprises trifluoroacetic acid.