Properties of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene nanocomposites adding ammonia plasma treated carbon nanotubes/graphene nanoplatelets for electronic discharge application

Abstract

Carbon-based nanofillers have been applied in various products, especially electrical and electronic products. It could be used to modify electrical conductivity of the integrated circuit (IC) polymeric packaging in order to prevent electrostatic discharge that would damage electronic integrity. This research reported the influence of ammonia plasma functionalization and its concentration on electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) reinforced with a mixture of CNTs and GNPs. Nanocomposites were successfully compounded using a twin-screw extruder, which firstly the masterbatch was prepared and then mixed with neat polymer into various concentrations (2 wt%, 4 wt%, 6 wt%, and 8 wt%). It was found that ammonia plasma functionalization increased the dispersion of nanofillers in the ABS matrix. When using a hybrid nanofillers in the weight ratio of CNTs:GNPs 60:40, it was found that the percolation threshold could be reached with a nanofiller concentration of 4 wt%. The surface electrical resistivity of the NH3-functionalzed hybrid nanocomposites was reduced more than those adding the non-functionalized hybrid nanofillers. At this suitable weight ratio, tensile modulus of the CNT-NH3:GNP-NH3 60:40 of 2 wt%, 4 wt%, 6 wt%, and 8 wt% could enhance the tensile modulus of ABS to be 35.98%, 38.29%, 43.54%, and 45.48% higher than that of neat ABS, respectively. Interestingly, the nanocomposites still had the ultimate tensile strength presented at yield with higher values. In addition, the NH3-plasma functionalized nanofillers enhanced thermal conductivity of the ABS matrix much better than the non-functionalized ones, which these nanofillers could provide heat transfer by heat dissipation thoroughly in the polymer matrix.