Dynamics of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/polyisoprene (PI) nanocomposites in electric and mechanical fields

Relaxation dynamics of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/polyisoprene (PI) nanocomposites were examined by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy (DMS) over a wide range of frequency and temperature. Both functionalized (SWNT-f) and pristine (SWNT-p) nanotubes were used and their effect on dynamics compared. Functionalized (PISF) nanocomposites were characterized by an increase in the time scale of the normal mode process as a consequence of the strong surface interactions between the polymer matrix and the nanotubes. The exact opposite is seen in pristine (PISP) nanocomposites where a decrease in the time scale of the normal mode relaxation is observed and attributed to weaker surface interactions and the effect of confinement on dynamics. The segmental process in PISF or PISP is not affected by the presence of nanotubes. The temperature dependence of the average relaxation time for normal and segmental modes is of the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann (VFT) type. A good agreement is observed in the time scale of processes measured by DRS and DMS in PISF nanocomposites. In PISP nanocomposites, however, the time scales obtained from DRS and DMS measurements are not in consistently good agreement and an explanation is offered in terms of confinement.