Influence of a cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer on the processability and thermoelectric properties of polycarbonate/MWCNT nanocomposites
Tzounis L, Gaertner T, Liebscher M, Poetschke P, Stamm M, Voit B, Heinrich G (2014)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2014
Journal
Book Volume: 55
Pages Range: 5381-5388
Journal Issue: 21
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2014.08.048
Abstract
The thermoelectric properties of melt-processed nanocomposites consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) thermoplastic matrix filled with commercially available carboxyl (-COOH) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were evaluated. MWCNTs carrying carboxylic acid moieties (MWCNT-COOH) were used due the p-doping that the carboxyl groups facilitate, via electron withdrawing from the electron-rich π-conjugated system. Preliminary thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of MWCNT-COOH revealed that the melt-mixing was limited at low temperatures due to thermal decomposition of the MWCNT functional groups. Therefore, PC was mixed with 2.5 wt% MWCNT-COOH (PC/MWCNT-COOH) at 240 °C and 270 °C. In order to reduce the polymer melt viscosity, a cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) oligomer was utilized as an additive, improving additionally the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. The melt rheological characterization of neat PC and PC/CBT blends demonstrated a significant decrease of the complex viscosity by the addition of CBT (10 wt%). Optical and transmission electron microscopy (OM, TEM) depicted an improved MWCNT dispersion in the PC/CBT polymer blend. The electrical conductivity was remarkably higher for the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT composites compared to the PC/MWCNT-COOH ones. Namely, the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT processed at 270 °C exhibited the best values with electrical conductivity; σ = 0.05 S/m, Seebeck coefficient; S = 13.55 μV/K, power factor; PF = 7.60 × 10-6 μW/m K-2, and thermoelectric figure of merit; ZT = 7.94 × 10-9. The PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT nanocomposites could be ideal candidates for large-scale thermal energy harvesting, even though the presently obtained ZT values are still too low for commercial applications.
Involved external institutions
Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V.
Germany (DE)
Technische Universität Dresden
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Technische Universität Dresden
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Tzounis, L., Gaertner, T., Liebscher, M., Poetschke, P., Stamm, M., Voit, B., & Heinrich, G. (2014). Influence of a cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer on the processability and thermoelectric properties of polycarbonate/MWCNT nanocomposites. Polymer, 55(21), 5381-5388. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2014.08.048
MLA:
Tzounis, Lazaros, et al. "Influence of a cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer on the processability and thermoelectric properties of polycarbonate/MWCNT nanocomposites." Polymer 55.21 (2014): 5381-5388.
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