Investigation of the Physical Properties of Poly(ester–ether)s and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

Abstract

This work describes the design and characterization of nanocomposites based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and commercial polymer matrices for innovative electronic applications. This work addresses the need for advanced materials for flexible electronics, sensing, and electromagnetic shielding. Sipolprene® 25170-W, a flexible and durable polyester–polyether block copolymer, was used as the matrix. For filler incorporation, the commercial masterbatch Plasticyl™ PBT-1501 (15 wt% of MWCNTs in PBT, polybutylene terephthalate) was employed, ensuring operational safety and ease of dispersion. The samples were produced as films (with masterbatch contents ranging from 10% to 30% corresponding to a MWCNT content ranging from 1.5 wt% to 4.5 wt%) via twin-screw extrusion with a flat die. Characterization included SEM, FT-IR, TGA, DSC, tensile testing, surface wettability, volume resistivity measurements, and electro-mechanical tests. All the results confirmed good dispersion of the filler within the matrix: from a mechanical point of view, the addition of MWCNTs increased the Young’s modulus from 25 MPa of the neat material to 122 MPa of the material containing 4.5 wt% of MWCNTs, enhancing stiffness while maintaining good film handleability. Thermal analysis revealed the high stability of the obtained system and allowed us to identify the appropriate processing temperature parameters to guarantee the thermal stability of the materials during processing. Finally, electrical tests demonstrated a significant reduction in volume resistivity with increasing filler content: the volume resistivity decreased by about eleven orders of magnitude, from approximately 108 Ohm × cm of the unmodified material to 10−3 Ohm × cm for the material containing 4.5 wt% of MWCNTs. the sample with 30% of filler exhibited the typical behavior of a conductive material, and it was demonstrated that it could be used as an in situ strain sensor. All these findings confirm the potential of the developed materials for advanced technological applications.