Influence of Tackifiers Addition on Phase Structure and Conductivity of the Polyurethane/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Composites

Abstract

We investigated the influence of the kind and quantity of added tackifier（TF）on the phase structureand electrical conductivity of polyurethane（PU）composites containing multi walled carbonnanotube（MWCNT）.When TF having low compatibility with PU was incorporated, sea-island structuretype phase separation was formed. At the low TF content for this system, the dispersibility ofMWCNT was poor in the PU-rich phase of sea component. Therefore, the conductive network wasdifficult to be generated and consequently the conductivity of the composite was low. In the case ofhigher TF content, the sea component was composed of TF having high affinity MWCNT. As a result,dispersibility of MWCNT and conductivity of the composite were enhanced. On the other hand, whenthe TF having good miscibility with PU was used, the single phase of PU and TF was formed. Resultantly,dispersibility of MWCNT was increased and the conductivity was nearly constant regardlessof TF content. From the above mentioned results, we found that phase structure of the matrix, dispersibilityof MWCNT, and conductivity of the composites were remarkably influenced by the kindand quantity of TF.