Miscibility, dynamic mechanical and optical limiting behavior of C60-based and multiwalled carbon nanotube- containing polymeric materials

Abstract

[60]Fullerenated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)s (FPHEMAs), whose solubility is primarily determined by their C60 contents, were successfully synthesized. FPHEMAs with 2.9 wt % C60 or less are soluble, for example, in methanol/water mixture. Their miscibility behavior with poly(1-vinylimidazole), poly(4-vinylpyridine), and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) was studied. The incorporation of C60 leads to hydrophobic effect, which increases the tendency for FPHEMA to form complexes with poly(1-vinylimidazole) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) and form miscible blend with poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). Blending poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) with a FPHEMA also improves its storage modulus at higher temperatures. Melt-mixing multiwalled carbon nanotubes with sufficient 1-(aminopropyl)-imidazole can disperse them better and compatibilize them with Phenoxy or poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol), thus producing composites with enhanced storage moduli over some temperature range. A double-C60-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (FPEOF)/ multiwalled carbon nanotube composite was also found to exhibit enhanced storage modulus and thermal stability. In solution, it shows enhanced optical limiting performance. The addition of MWNT to FPEOF was found to enhance greatly the optical limiting performance of FPEOF. The FPEOF/MWNT composite solutions show promises in potential application as a broadband optical limiter.