W. Yang, H. Zhou, B. H. Yang, H. D. Lu, L. Song and Y. Hu (2016) Facile Preparation of Modified Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced PBT Nanocomposites With Enhanced Thermal, Flame Retardancy, and Mechanical Properties. Journal/Polymer Composites 37 1812-1820. [In English]
Web link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pc.23354
Keywords:��OLY(BUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE), CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIOR, THERMOPLASTIC, POLYESTERS, FLAMMABILITY PROPERTIES, HEAT-CAPACITY, COMPOSITES, POLYMER, POLY(ETHYLENE-TEREPHTHALATE), FUNCTIONALIZATION, TEMPERATURE

Abstract: In this study, the carbon nanotube was modified by inorganic acids to introduce the carboxylic acid groups on the surface. The modified carbon nanotube (mCNT)-reinforced poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (PBT) nanocomposites were prepared through melt blending method. Morphological observations revealed that the m-CNT particles were homogeneously dispersed in PBT matrix. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis showed that a very small quantity of m-CNT can significantly increase the crystallization temperature of PBT. The improvement of thermal stability and tensile strength/modulus of the nanocomposites strongly depended on the uniform dispersion of mCNT and the interactions between m-CNT and PBT through hydrogen-bonding formation. In the cone calorimeter testing, the PHRR decreased from 1189 kW/m(2) for neat PBT to 737 kW/m(2) for PBT/0.9m-CNT containing 0.9 wt% m-CNT with a reduction of 38%. The remarkable enhancement of flame retardancy properties was attributed to the condensed-phase effect acted by the m-CNT. (C) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers