Nano-tailoring of carbon nanotube as nano-fillers for composite materials applications

In this paper molecular level tailoring of carbon nanotube has been developed in order to get a high degree of precision for specific applications. The selection of molecules to be grafted to carbon nanotube surface was given an emphasis because it has the role for composite matrix and the filler interfaces. This molecules are covalently bonded with the sidewalls and/or tips of the nanotubes during polymerisation process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used for nanotube analysis. Results revealed that even though it is difficult to give a clear definition to uniform dispersion of nanoparticles on a macroscopic scale, this method can still be affirmed to improve considerably the dispersion of the nanotubes in a polymer matrix. Further work must still be done to improve the yield of reaction, to ensure that the number of functionalized sites per unit length of nanotube is almost the same and to determine the effect of the bonded molecules on the intrinsic physical properties of the carbon nanotubes.