Structure-property relationship of established MWCNT network enhancing thermo-mechanical stability and electrical conductivity in TPU nanocomposites

Serafimoski, Stefan (avtor), Šobak, Matic (avtor), Vesel, Alenka (avtor), Slemenik Perše, Lidija (avtor), Oseli, Alen (avtor)

Enhanced thermo-mechanical stability and conductive response are essential when developing carbon nanotube/elastomer-based nanocomposites for flexible sensing applications. To improve performance of such materials, it is crucial to understand structure–property relations. By using advanced experimental approaches on multi-walled carbon nanotubes/thermoplastic polyurethane system, we were able to reveal main building blocks and network’s morphology (plasma etching and SEM); identify mechanisms of network formation, and the nature of building blocks (rheological analysis); as well as determine the impacts on the thermo-mechanical (thermal and viscoelastic analysis) and conductive (electrical analysis) performance of such nanocomposites. Results showed that the network is in majority constructed from MWCNT bundles. The inherent nature of elastomeric system forces bundles and network to retain random distribution. Bundles may be considered as stiff rod-like Brownian entities, which geometrically entangle at volume fraction of ▫$\phi_{V, c}^G$▫ ∼ 0.46 %, indicating network formation. The network was considered as fully established at concentration of ▫$\phi_{V, c}^{CP}$▫ ∼ 1 %, as cross-over point of dynamic moduli. Finally, it was found that thermo-mechanical and conductive performance of the nanocomposite corresponds to the fully established network (and not network formation), allowing force (∼10× increase of moduli), and electron (∼108× increase of conductivity) transfer, while improving thermo-mechanical stability within operating temperatures (increase of glass transition for 25 °C).

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: carbon nanotubes, elastomer-based nanocomposites, network formation and morphology, rheological analysis, thermo-mechanical analysis, electrical conductivity analysis
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FS - Fakulteta za strojništvo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: 10 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 260, [article no.] 115126
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-176112
• UDK: 621
• ISSN pri članku: 1873-4197
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2025.115126
• COBISS.SI-ID: 258201347
• Datum objave v RUL: 21.11.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Materials & design
• Založnik: Elsevier Science
• ISSN: 1873-4197
• COBISS.SI-ID: 56288771

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: ogljikove nanocevke, nanokompoziti na bazi elastomera, formiranje in morfologija omrežja nanocevk, reološka analiza, termo-mehanska analiza, analiza električne prevodnosti

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P2-0264
• Naslov: Trajnostni Polimerni materiali in Tehnologije