Poly(methyl methacrylate)/multi-walled carbon nanotube microbead composites via dispersion polymerization under ultrasonication

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) embedded monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres were synthesized via an in-situ dispersion polymerization by employing an ultrasonication, and their various characteristics were investigated. Particle size distribution of the synthesized PMMA microbeads with MWNT under ultrasonication became narrower and monodisperse. Surface morphology of the PMMA microspheres synthesized in the presence of the MWNT was examined by SEM, showing that the MWNTs were adhered onto the surface of PMMA microbeads. The synthesized MWNT/PMMA microspheres were also characterized by zeta-potential measurement and TGA for their electric and thermal stability studies, respectively, exhibiting that the addition of MWNTs as a filler improved the intrinsic properties of the PMMA along with electrorheology.