Advance polymeric carbon nanocomposite films with enhanced thermo‐mechanical properties

Abstract The homogenous nanocomposite films of UV/O₃ oxidized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) subsequently modified with aniline moiety were synthesized with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) through free radical polymerization. The phenylamine functional groups present on the surface of MWCNTs providing an anchoring sites for deposition of Ag metal nanoparticles (NP).The in situ free radical polymerization of MMA in the presence of these well dispersed nanotubes gave a new class of radiation resistant nanocomposite films. The synthesized materials were characterized by FT‐IR, TGA, TEM, EDX, TC, DMA, universal testing machine, and optical microscopy to ascertain their structural morphologies, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. The microscopic and structural properties reflect the homogenous mixing of modified MWCNTs in polymer matrix contributing in enhancement of thermal stability, thermo‐mechanical strength, glass transition temperatures, and thermal conductivity of nanocomposites even at 0.25 wt% addition of modified nanofiller. Thermal and thermo‐mechanical behavior of pre‐ and post‐UV/O₃ irradiated nanocomposite films have been compared with neat polymer. The results revealed that modified nanofiller network can effectively disperse the radiation and has a dramatic reinforcement effect on the nature of degradation of PMMA matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers