Augmentation of properties on sparingly loaded nanocomposites via functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes using a covalent approachElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Materials, synthesis and characterization of [OH]n-SWCNTs, control PU and nanocomposites films. FTIR, Raman, TGA and DSC of [OH]n-SWCNTs. TG/DTG, UV-vis DRS, photographs, optical images and tensile profiles of control and PU nanocomposites. See DOI: 10.1039/c4ra07636b

Polymer nanocomposites are developed, for the first time, as transparent films by the covalent addition of polyurethane (PU) prepolymers to trace amounts of functionalized carbon nanotubes, [OH] n -SWCNTs, via an efficient route using mild reagents. These PU nanocomposites, which were uniformly distributed with SWCNTs via covalent bonding between SWCNTs and the polyurethane network show enhanced mechanical, thermal and conductivity (10 −4 S cm −1 ) properties. Polymer nanocomposites are developed, for the first time, as transparent film by covalent addition of [OH] n -SWCNTs with PU via an efficient route. PU nanocomposites, which were augmented, show enhanced mechanical, thermal and conductivity properties.