Multi-walled carbon nanotube/polystyrene composites prepared by in-situ bulk sonochemical polymerization.

Nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and polystyrene (PS) were synthesized via an in-situ bulk sonochemical polymerization under the application of ultrasonication to open pi-bonds in the MWNT, thus enhancing the PS polymerization. Sonication of vinyl monomers such as styrene leads to radical initiation of polymerization. Various characteristics such as morphology, thermal property of the synthesized PS in the presence of the MWNT in the PS/MWNT composites were examined by SEM, TEM, thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Their rheological properties were also investigated using a stress-controlled rotational rheometer under small amplitude oscillation and steady transient shear in their melt state.