Electrically conductive nanocomposite adhesives based on epoxy or chloroprene containing polyaniline, and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This study is focused on the preparation of electrically conductive nanocomposite adhesives based on epoxy resin or chloroprene rubber containing polyaniline, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). For this purpose, MWCNTs were carboxylated (MWCNTs-COOH) by conventional acid oxidation process, and then poly(ethylene glycol) monomethylether was covalently attached to the carboxylated MWCNTs via a esterification reaction. Moreover, carboxylic groups in the MWCNTs-COOH were reduced to alcohol groups (MWCNTs-OH), and then dodecyl-functionalized MWCNTs was synthesized by a substitution nucleophilic reaction in the presence of a solvent composed of 1-bromo dodecane, sodium hydride (NaH), and dry N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The functionalized carbon nanotubes (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt%), and nanopolyaniline (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt%) were added to epoxy resin or chloroprene rubber to produces electrically conductive nanocomposite adhesives.