Carbon Nanotubes as Filler for Elastomers: Expectation and Reality

Three of the main carbon nanotubes intrinsic characters: mechanical, electrical and thermal properties and how the filler loading and dispersion state affect the same physical properties of corresponding nanocomposites are discussed. This survey underlines the prominence of the polymer/solid interactions on the determination of the nanocomposites behaviours. An original calorimetric method for the determination of polymer/filler interactions is presented. Obtained results indicate that polymer entropic penalty prevent the adsorption of amorphous polymer from solution on such highly curved surface, with the exception of a very narrow window of molecular weight. Our findings explain some of the unexpected nanocomposites behaviours.