Relation of the number of cross-links and mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube films formed by a dehydration condensation reaction.
Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) films were prepared by employing a condensation reaction utilizing 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) to cross-link each MWCNT with carboxylic acid and hydroxyl groups. Morphological changes in the resultant MWCNT films were monitored using scanning electron microscopy and showed that the MWCNTs were randomly intertwined in the films. The prepared MWCNT films were 17 mm in diameter and 20 microm in thickness, and the apparent density was 0.59 g/cm(3). Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy confirmed that each MWCNT modified with carboxylic acid and hydroxyl groups was cross-linked through the ester bond. It was found that the ratio of the number of ester cross-links and carbon atoms of the nanotubes per unit apparent volume (cm(3)) of condensed-MWCNT films was 5.27 x 10(-3) using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The tensile strength and Vickers hardness of condensed-MWCNT films achieved an average of 15 and 9.2 MPa, respectively, and were greater than those of free-standing MWCNT films without ester bond.
Ogino
Shin-Ichi
S
Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.
Sato
Yoshinori
Y
Yamamoto
Go
G
Sasamori
Kenichiro
K
Kimura
Hisamichi
H
Hashida
Toshiyuki
T
Motomiya
Kenichi
K
Jeyadevan
Balachandran
B
Tohji
Kazuyuki
K
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D003681:Dehydration; D004024:Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D036103:Nanotechnology; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013818:Thermogravimetry
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D004024:Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide