Adsorption of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on electrospun polycaprolacton nanofibers

Abstract

Polycaprolacton (PCL) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes/PCL (P-MWNT/PCL) were prepared by electrospinning technique. The average diameter of the nanofibers was below 400 nm. The mechanical properties of the P-MWNT/PCL nanofibers were higher than that of neat PCL nanofibers. It was also found that the mechanical properties of the composite nanofibers were decreased as increased the amount of P-MWNTs, which were due to the poor dispersion of the P-MWNTs in the PCL matrix or agglomeration of MWNTs at high concentration. The thermal stability of the P-MWNT/PCL nanofibers was higher than PCL nanofibers. The conductivity of the adsorbed P-MWNT on PCL (φ) nanofibers was 1.27 × 10-4 S/cm.