Composites of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The unique and extraordinary mechanical, electrical and thermal conductivity properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) make them ideal candidates as functional fillers for polymeric materials. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is an important engineering plastic finding widespread application in automotive, electronic and packaging technologies. The key challenge to achieving enhanced polymer properties is efficient dispersion and distribution of MWCNTs in the polymer matrix. In this chapter, we describe the preparation of composites of a PET with MWCNTs via melt mixing and, employing many of the characterisation techniques described elsewhere in this book, we investigate the extent of MWCNT dispersion by correlating microscopic observations with electrical and rheological percolation measurements. We also report the effect of MWCNT addition on PET thermal stability using thermal gravimetry analysis, and on PET crystallisation behaviour using a combination of Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle X-ray diffraction