Preparation and Performance of PVC/CNT Nanocomposite

ABSTRACT The PVC/CNT nanocomposite was prepared with commercial poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) beads and multiwall carbon nanotube (CNT). The comparative values of the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) and electrical conductivity of PVC/CNT nanocomposite in the presence and absence of PVC beads were described. The results showed that the EMI SE values and electrical conductivity values of PVC/CNT nanocomposite had increased compared to those without PVC beads. After the addition of PVC beads, both values of the EMI SE and electrical conductivity had also increased with the increasing of the amount of PVC bead on the PVC/CNT nanocomposite, and the PVC/CNT nanocomposite in the presence of PVC bead showed high EMI SE value (22.6 dB at 4.0 wt% CNT loading in the presence of 70 wt% bead) and high conductivity value (5.31×10−2S cm−1 at 1.0 wt% CNT loading in the presence of 70 wt% bead) at low CNT loading. Thus, PVC beads effectively play a major role in enhancing the EMI SE value and electrical conductivity value of the nanocomposite. To check the bead region and solvent‐dried CNT region in the nanocomposite, morphological studies have been done and morphological studies of the PVC/CNT nanocomposite supported the two‐phase regions in the composite and the selective dispersion of the CNT in the solvent‐dried phase has been clearly observed.