Modification of polymer properties by adjunction of carbon nanotubes and surface treatment

This Ph.D. work demonstrates the possible use of carbon nanotubes as additives to polymeric matrices and the specific surface functionalization of polyacrylonitrile films induced by proton beams.

Insertion of carbon nanotubes into polypropylene matrix leads to an increase of electrical conductivity and to a mechanical reinforcement. The advantage of using nanotubes lies in this combined increase and in the low charge rates ( 10%). 10 wt.% of nanotubes in the matrix induce an electrical resistivity of 1 ohm.cm which corresponds to an increase of 17 orders of magnitude with respect to pure polymer. The elastic modulus rises to 160% of its initial value and the alignment of the tubes at the temperature of 110°C leads to a modulus value of 8.5 GPa.

Polyacrylonitrile films bombardment by proton beams of low kinetic energy (10 keV) provokes specific modification of the matrix. The oxidation induced at the surface is replaced by a graphite-like structure in depth. The formation of amine and imine functions is observed at the depth range of protons (150 nm from film surface).