Preparation and properties of biodegradable PBS/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

In this study, poly(butylene succinate)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PBS/MWNT) hybrids were prepared by a melt-blending process. The carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were successfully modified using N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) dehydrating agents. As a result, excellent dispersion of the modified carbon nanotubes (CNT–C18) in organic solvents was achieved. Subsequently, the PBS/CNT nanocomposites were prepared through facile melt blending. Mechanical properties, thermal behavior, conductivity of these resultant polymer/CNT composites were investigated. The results obtained show that the PBS/CNT–C18 nanocomposites consisting of well-dispersed nanotubes exhibited enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. With the addition of 3 wt% CNT–C18, Td of the nanocomposite increased 12.3 °C as compared to that of the pristine PBS sample. Moreover, the increments of E′ and E″ of the nanocomposite at 25 °C were 120 and 55%, respectively. In the aspect of conductivity, the surface resistivity of the PBS/CNT–C18 composite was found to be 7.30 × 106 Ω, which is a decrease of 109 fold in value as compared to that of the pristine PBS sample. Such PBS/CNT–C18 sample exhibits high anti-static efficiency, which would be potentially useful in electronic packaging materials.