Effect of differently functionalized carbon nanotubes on the properties of composite nanofibres

Effect of differently functionalized (carboxyl, amine and hydroxyl functionalized) multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the structure and properties of composite polyacrylonitrile nanofibres produced by electrospinning has been studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been used to confirm the successful functionalization of carbon nanotubes while mechanical testing, electrical conductivity, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis have been used to characterize the composite polyacrylonitrile nanofibre webs. The addition of MWCNTs, either pristine or functionalized, results in slight increases in the diameter of nanofibres. The tensile strength, crystallinity, thermal properties are all found to be affected by the functional groups of the carbon nanotubes, while the conductivities of the nanowebs seem to be insensitive to the different functional groups of the carbon nanotubes.