TITLE:
Nanoporous Structure and Enhanced Thermal Stability of a Polyimide/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composite
AUTHORS:
Gerard T. Caneba
KEYWORDS:
Polyimide, Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes, HiPco, nanoporous structure, thermally stable polymer composite
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.8 No.1,
January
20,
2009
ABSTRACT: Polymer composites based on polyimides and single-walled carbon nanotubes are of interest in
space and aerospace industries, due to inherent thermal stabilities as thermal/electrical
conductivities of the components. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to disperse the carbon
nanotubes (CNTs) into the polyimide matrix. This work attempts this by predispersion of the
CNTs in the precursor reactive materials, and then polymerization is carried out with the CNTs
in place. When this is done, some unusual behavior has been observed, such as the formation of
nanoporous composite structure and enhanced thermal stability of the products.