Development of conductive plastics for fuel cells

• Main Author: Chong, Kah Wei.
• Other Authors: Li Lin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Nanostructured materials
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/20690
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project is aimed at developing highly electrical conductive, thermally stable and mechanically strong thermoplastic polymer composites for micro fuel-cell application. An idea for preparation of electrically-conductive polymeric composites based on polypropylene (PP) has been introduced. Polypropylene (PP) was mixed in its molten state with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) which had been non-covalently modified. Two anionic surfactants were used to modify MWCNTs non-covalently. Injection molding process was used for PP/MWCNT composites to form different sample shapes such as tensile bars, square plates, circular plates and etc. The effects of surfactant-treated MWCNTs on the rheological, physical, morphological, thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of the PP at different compositions have been systematically examined. By using this non-covalent modification of MWCNTs, a uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in the polymer matrix has been achieved without spoiling the physical properties of MWCNTs. The mechanical properties of PP/MWCNT composites show pretty much higher than those of pure PP. For example, the PP/MWCNT composite with 1% wt loading of surfactant-treated MWCNTs has Young’s modulus which is 5 times higher than that of pure PP. Incorporating with 10% wt loading of surfactant-treated MWCNTs, the electrical conductivity of the composite is 6.7 x 10-2 S/cm which is surprisingly larger than that of pure PP (1 x 10-16 S/cm).