Fabrication of self-healing polymers and CNT/polymer composites

• Main Author: Yang, Chong
• Other Authors: Liao Kin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Polymers and polymer manufacture
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/16900
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Self healing polymers exhibit rubber elasticity, which is a property of macromolecules either cross-linked covalently or linked by physical associations into a network. Such property has made it a popular research topic in the field of biomaterial and tissue engineering. In this experiment, we plan to synthesize a sort of polymer associating together, forming chains and cross-links via hydrogen bonds. Repaired polymer has unique property that the process of breaking and healing is repeatable, and can be repeated many times. Carbon nanotubes have unique physical properties that have inspired their use to produce carbon nanotube polymer composites that could enhance the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of the materials. Hence we design and syntheses a cross-linked network of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) through the surface modification of CNT with ditopic and multi-topic supramolecules. Such a system would exhibit not only all the unique properties of CNT, but also extensibility. It is expected to be able recover its original shape upon the release of stress.