title: Preparation and mechanical properties of chitosan/carbon nanotubes composites.
abstract: Biopolymer chitosan/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposites have been successfully prepared by a simple solution-evaporation method. The morphology and mechanical properties of the chitosan/MWNTs nanocomposites have been characterized with field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), bright field transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical microscopy (OM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile as well as nanoindentation tests. The MWNTs were observed to be homogeneously dispersed throughout the chitosan matrix. When compared with neat chitosan, the mechanical properties, including the tensile modulus and strength, of the nanocomposites are greatly improved by about 93% and 99%, respectively, with incorporation of only 0.8 wt % of MWNTs into the chitosan matrix.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, ASTAR, 3 Research Link, Singapore 117602. shaofw2002@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Shao-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Wei-De
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yue-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000379:methods*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D002244:Carbon; D048271:Chitosan