Multifunctional Coatings With Carbon Nanotubes for Electrostatic Charge Mitigation and With Controllable Surface Properties

Electrostatic charge dissipation presents a major problem for applications ranging from electronics to space exploration. A novel method to control both the bulk and the surface electrical conductivity of polymeric films is presented. By dispersing small amounts of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the polymeric material, the electrical bulk resistivity decreased by seven orders of magnitude. Also, nanolayers of single and multiwall CNTs were electrosprayed on the surface of the polymeric films, and the surface resistivity was monitored as a function of nanotube loading. The films with CNT-modified surfaces were found to have the highest charge dissipation rates with decay times in seconds.