1/7/2011
Impact of injection-molding processing parameters on the electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties of thermoplastic/carbon nanotube nanocomposites
(70–78)Journal of Applied Polymer  Science 120 #1 (2011)
Abstract
Rios et al, Israel injection molded thermoplastic nanocomposites, based on high-density polyethylene, polyamide 6, polyamide 66, poly(butylene terephthalate), or polycarbonate and containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs).  The nanocomposites reached a percolation threshold within CNT concentrations of 2–5 wt %; however, the mechanical properties of the host polymers were affected.The volume resistivity was significantly dependent on the working temperature and varied up to 4 orders of magnitude. Other properties were also dependent on the processing parameters but less pronounced.  Injection-molding parameters have a significant impact on the properties of polymer/CNT nanocomposites, and these parameters should be optimized to yield the best results.  (RDC 1/10/2011)