Characterization of dispersion of carbon nanotubes in polymer matrices

Dispersions of carbon nanotube polymer composites were characterized by Raman mapping. Single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs), double-walled nanotubes (DWNTs), multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs), and XD-grade carbon nanotubes (XD-CNTs) were dispersed in a vinyl ester (VE) resin using an ultrasonic probe at a fixed frequency. SWNTs were functionalized with succinic acid peroxide (SAP) to enhance dispersion. Increasing ultrasonication energy was found to improve the distribution of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and decrease the size of ropes, whereas excessive amounts of energy were found to result in damage. The quality of dispersion was verified through optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).