Characterization and Electrical Conductivity of Poly(ethylene glycol) ­­­­­– Poly(acrylonitrile) – Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Composites

S. M. Aqeel*  and Z.  Küçükyavuz

* Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, Thamar University,

P. O. Box 87039, Thamar , Yemen

E. Mail: salemaqeel@yahoo.com

Department of Chemistry, Middle East Technical University, 06531 Ankara, Turkey

Abstract:  Polymer blends based on Poly(ethylene glycol) – Poly(acrylonitrile) – multi-walled carbon nanotubes  (PEG-PAN-MWNT) were prepared by the solvent cast technique from dispersion of MWNT in a concentration range 0 – 3.45% wt. . The interaction of MWNT with polymer blend was confirmed by FTIR study. The thermal properties of the polymer blend with MWNT was carried out by means of different scanning calorimetry (DSC) . It was evident from the DSC that the polymer – MWNT had a high thermal stability. For measuring the electrical conductivity, the four point probe method was used. The electrical conductivity showed ionic conductivity of the order of 4.4x10^-4 S/cm to 1.2 x 10^-2 S/cm. Relative change in the conductivity with concentration and temperature for the samples were analyzed.

Key words: Poly(ethylene glycol) , Poly(acrylonitrile) ,  multi-walled carbon nanotubes, DSC, ionic conductivity