Multi-walled carbon nanotube/polyimide composite film fabricated through electrophoretic deposition

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 51; no. 10; pp. 2155 - 2160
• Main Authors: Wu, De Cheng, Shen, Lu, Low, Jia En, Wong, Siew Yee, Li, Xu, Tjiu, Wuiwui Chauhari, Liu, Ye, He, Chao Bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 04-05-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anodes; Applied sciences; Carbon nanotube; Charged particles; Colloids; Composite film; Composites; Dispersions; Electric fields; Electrophoretic deposition; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Polyimide resins; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Resistivity; Technology of polymers; Composite film; Carbon nanotube; Electrophoretic deposition; Polyimide; Electrical properties; Dispersion degree; Aromatic polymer; Mechanical properties; Carbon nanotubes; Tensile property; Thermal reaction; Experimental study; Amidoacid polymer; Surface electrical conductivity; Pyromellitimide polymer; Functionalized nanotube; Multiwalled nanotube; Imidation; Morphology; Concentration effect; Nanocomposite; Manufacturing
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2010.03.020

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polyimide composite films were fabricated through electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of MWCNT-polyamic acid colloidal suspension which was derived from carboxylated-MWCNTs and poly(pyromellitic dianhydride-
co-4,4′-oxydianiline) (PMDA-ODA). Under electric field, both negatively charged MWCNTs and PMDA-ODA colloid particles migrate onto a positively charged anode simultaneously, and are converted to a coherent MWCNT/polyimide composite film in the ensuing imidization reaction. Uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in the composite film was observed using transmission electron microscopy. The thickness of the prepared composite film can be tuned by varying processing conditions such as deposition time and anode conductivity. The electrical conductivity of the composite film increased with increasing the concentration of MWCNTs in EPD suspension. The mechanical reinforcement of polyimide using MWCNTs was evaluated by tensile testing and nanoindentation testing.
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