The Synthesis and Investigation of SiO2—MgO Coated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composites

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were coated with talc-like oxides via impregnation method to facilitate their incorporation into polymer matrix. Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate [Mg(NO3)(2) x 6H(2)O], sodium silicate pentahydrate [Na2SiO3 x 5H(2)O] were applied as precursors. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy methods. These techniques revealed that multiwalled carbon nanotubes were successfully coated with talc-like oxides. In order to investigate the changes in the properties of reinforced polymers, these multiwalled carbon nanotube containing nanocomposites were implicated into polyamide, polyethylene and polypropylene matrices, respectively. Mechanical properties and thermal behavior of polymer composites were investigated using tensile test, dynamic mechanical analysis and thermogravimetric methods. It has been found that depending on the nature of polymer matrix the surface treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes influenced their mechanical properties differently. According to the results, incorporation of coated MWCNT filler composite into various polymer matrices is a promising method to enhance their mechanical properties.