Dispersion rheology of carbon nanotubes in a polymer matrix

Abstract

We report on rheological properties of a dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in a viscous polymer matrix. Particular attention is paid to the process of nanotubes mixing and dispersion, which we monitor by the rheological signature of the composite. The response of the composite as a function of the dispersion mixing time and conditions indicates that a critical mixing time ${t}^{*}$ needs to be exceeded to achieve satisfactory dispersion of aggregates, this time being a function of nanotube concentration and the mixing shear stress. At shorter times of shear mixing $t<{t}^{*}$, we find a number of nonequilibrium features characteristic of colloidal glass and jamming of clusters. A thoroughly dispersed nanocomposite, at $t>{t}^{*}$, has several universal rheological features; at nanotube concentration above a characteristic value ${n}_{c}\ensuremath{\sim}2--3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{wt}.\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}%$ the effective elastic gel network is formed, while the low-concentration composite remains a viscous liquid. We use this rheological approach to determine the effects of aging and reaggregation.