ENHANCEMENT OF MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYCARBONATE-BASED CORE-SHELL COMPOSITES BY MODIFICATION WITH SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES

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Abstract
The paper describes mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties of modified polycarbonate obtained by hot compression moulding of core-shell composites consisting of a polymer core covered with a shell containing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Such an approach in material design based on ultralow modification with nanomaterials allows obtaining a segregated 3D network of SWCNTs, which can provide a functionalization of material and significant enhancement of mechanical, chemical and electrical properties. It was observed that impact strength of polycarbonate modified with SWCNTs was increased by almost 2.5 times even at an ultralow SWCNTs concentration of 0.0024 wt.% and reached more than 5 times increase at 0.01 wt.% of SWCNTs. Chemical resistance of the sample with 0.01 wt.% of SWCNTs was improved by 2.4 times when exposed to ammonia. At the same time, for other selected solvents any positive or negative effect of SWCTNs was not demonstrated, as well as the hardness of modified polycarbonate was not affected by SWCNTs. The electrical percolation threshold was defined at an ultralow level of 0.0010-0.0012 wt.% of SWCNTs.