Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) multi-bonded carbon nanotube (CNT): Preparation and formation of PPO/CNT nanocomposites

Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) multi-bonded carbon nanotube (CNT) (CNT–PPO) was prepared using brominated PPO under the condition of atom transfer radical polymerization. The structure and properties of CNT–PPO were characterized with FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and thermal analyzer. The PPO layer in a thickness of about 4.5 nm was observed covering on the side wall of CNT with a high-resolution TEM. The PPO modification warrants the good dispersion of CNTs in PPO in the formation of PPO/CNT nanocomposites, which demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties and increases in electrical conductivity. The developed approach of CNT modification with engineering plastics can be applied to other polymers and preparation of functional polymer/CNT nanocomposites.