Ultrasonically prepared polystyrene/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Polystyrene (PS) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) nanocomposites were synthesized via an in situ bulk polymerization by employing an ultrasonicator without adding an initiator, in which the ultrasonication was found to do a favor in producing well-dispersed MWNT in the PS matrix. Morphology of the as-synthesized PS/MWNT nanocomposite was investigated by both scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Electrical conductivity of the PS/MWNT nanocomposite film fabricated by a solvent casting method was also examined to be enhanced with MWNT content, while average molecular weights of the synthesized PS in the PS/MWNT nanocomposites analyzed by a gel permeation chromatography increased and then saturated at 2 wt% MWNT. Rheological properties of MWNT containing PS were enhanced because of improved dispersion of the MWNT through an interaction between MWNT and PS.