CLAY IMPROVED DISPERSION OF CARBON NANOTUBES IN DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

Abstract

Hybrid nanofillers composed of different ratios of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and sodium montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared by physically pulverizing both materials in powder form. Their dispersion behavior was inves-tigated in different solvents (water, toluene and carbon tetrachloride). UV-vis spectroscopy showed that the absorb-ance at 550 nm for the CNTs becomes more intense with the increasing amount of added MMT, when water is used as a solvent, implying their improved dispersion. This is not so evident for toluene and carbon tetrachloride. TGA analyses showed that the thermal stability of the hybrid nanofillers increases with the increase of the MMT content. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the mutual interaction between CNTs and MMT, demonstrated by shift of D and G band with addition of MMT in the nanofiller.