Carbon nanotubes grafted by polyurethane chains with dopamine-mediation to enhance the mechanical and damping properties of polyurethane elastomer

Yi Yang, Xiaodong Li, Hao Jiang*, Mengchen Ge, Xing Su, Meishuai Zou*, Guoping Li

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A novel strategy of combining mussel inspired dopamine chemistry and polycondensation reactions to construct unique functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with polyurethane (PU) chains was demonstrated. The polydopamine (PDA) was firstly functionalized to the surface of carbon nanotubes, then polydopamine acted as a bridge and covalently reacted with polyurethane chains to form a network structure named CNTs-PDA-PU, which improved the ability of polyurethane chains grafted onto carbon nanotubes. The functionalized carbon nanotubes significantly enhanced the mechanical and damping properties of nanocomposites. It was found that the highest mechanical properties were achieved at 0.1% loading of CNTs-PDA-PU, leading to the tensile strength and elongation at break increased by 97% and 25%, respectively, compared with matrix. More interestingly, the functionalized carbon nanotubes could form multiple physical and chemical interface interactions with matrix, thus alter the microphase separation structure of nanocomposites. This novel carbon nanotubes functionalization and elastomer synthesis method can provide ideas for the application of nanocomposites.

Original languageEnglish
Article number126041
JournalPolymer
Volume280
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Jul 2023

Keywords

  • Carbon nanotubes
  • Microphase separation
  • Nanocomposite

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