Skip to main content
Journal cover image

The role of crystallinity in SWCNT-polyetherimide nanocomposites

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hegde, M; Samulski, ET; Rubinstein, M; Dingemans, TJ
Published in: Composites Science and Technology
2015

Two all-aromatic, high-performance poly(etherimide)s ODPA-P3 (I) and BPDA-P3 (II) are studied as a function of SWCNT loading. Polyetherimide I is amorphous but SWCNTs nucleate crystallization during imidization to produce a nanocomposite (nc-I) with SWCNTs embedded in the crystals. This crystalline interphase, with a radial thickness of 8. nm, results in a substantial reinforcement efficacy. Melting the interphase and cooling nc-I yields an amorphous nanocomposite with an interphase thickness (3.6. nm) that is smaller and has a lower reinforcement efficacy. Polyetherimide II was used as a reference since SWCNTs reside in the amorphous fraction of its nanocomposite. Consequently, the reinforcement efficiency of the semi-crystalline nc-II and its amorphous analog (prepared by heating above the crystal melting point and cooling) remains unchanged. A crystalline interphase surrounding SWCNT-reinforced poly(etherimide)s appears to be critical in obtaining high reinforcement efficacies. Most high-performance polyimides and poly(etherimide)s are prepared using a thermal imidization step. Our work emphasizes that care has to be taken in selecting the final imidization temperature to avoid melting the crystalline interphase if one is targeting high modulus materials.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Composites Science and Technology

DOI

ISSN

0266-3538

Publication Date

2015

Related Subject Headings

  • Materials
  • 09 Engineering
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Hegde, M., Samulski, E. T., Rubinstein, M., & Dingemans, T. J. (2015). The role of crystallinity in SWCNT-polyetherimide nanocomposites. Composites Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2015.02.004
Hegde, Maruti, Edward T. Samulski, Michael Rubinstein, and Theo J. Dingemans. “The role of crystallinity in SWCNT-polyetherimide nanocomposites.” Composites Science and Technology, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2015.02.004.
Hegde M, Samulski ET, Rubinstein M, Dingemans TJ. The role of crystallinity in SWCNT-polyetherimide nanocomposites. Composites Science and Technology. 2015;
Hegde, Maruti, et al. “The role of crystallinity in SWCNT-polyetherimide nanocomposites.” Composites Science and Technology, 2015. Manual, doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2015.02.004.
Hegde M, Samulski ET, Rubinstein M, Dingemans TJ. The role of crystallinity in SWCNT-polyetherimide nanocomposites. Composites Science and Technology. 2015;
Journal cover image

Published In

Composites Science and Technology

DOI

ISSN

0266-3538

Publication Date

2015

Related Subject Headings

  • Materials
  • 09 Engineering