Introduction of organo‐modified carbon nanotubes into fluoropolymer‐based hybrids containing polyrotaxane and cellulose nanofibers as organic fillers and their drawn orientation effects

Abstract The effect of drawn orientation on a polymer‐based composite containing two types of functional organic fillers, organo‐modified single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and a trace amount of dispersant was investigated. To improve the dispersion state of organo‐modified SWCNTs in the presence of organic fillers, we introduced a small amount of fluorinated phosphonic acid in addition to fluorinated phosphonic acid‐modified SWCNTs into a fluorinated polymer matrix. Fluorinated phosphonic acid functioned as a dispersant for organo‐modified SWCNTs in the fluorinated polymer. However, the thermal and mechanical properties of corresponding composites prepared by melt‐compounding did not necessarily improve. When the composite was uniaxially drawn, SWCNT aggregates were observed to be oriented in the direction of the drawing. In addition, the draw‐orienting process improved the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites. Specifically, Young's modulus increased more than seven times when drawn 7 times, reaching 251 MPa. Furthermore, in terms of elongation properties, the strain value reached 78%, nearly four times the original value, when drawn 5 times. Highlights Carbon nanotubes were attained to introduce into composite containing organic fillers. Surface modification of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was effective for nanohybridization. Mechanical properties of the composite containing oriented SWCNTs were improved. When drawn 7 times, Young's modulus improved by more than 7 times. When drawn 5 times, the elongation properties improved by about 4 times.