Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol.26, No.19, 1563-1566, 2005
Electrorheology of multiwalled carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites
Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) nanocomposites dispersed in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix were prepared via suspension polymerization, in which radicals induced on the outer wall of the MWNTs by 2,2'-azoisobutyronitrile initiate the grafting of PMMA. The synthesized MWNT/PMMA nanocomposite particles were found to have a spherical shape and exhibit a high electrical conductivity, mainly as a result of the carbon nanotubes. A suspension was prepared with MWNT/PMMA particles in insulating silicone oil and its electrorheological properties were investigated by controlling applied direct current (DC) electric field strengths.
Keywords:carbon nanotubes;electrorheology;nanocomposites;polymerization;poly(methyl methacrylate);suspension