Nanocomposites of poly(thioureaamide) with carbon nanotube

Abstract

In the current study, poly(thioureaamide) (PTA) was prepared from isophthaloyl diisothiocyanate and p-phenylenediamine using a facile condensation technique. Fourier transform infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses confirmed the structure of the polymer obtained. PTA was then used as a matrix to synthesize organic hybrid materials. In this regard, the functionalized and nonfunctionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were utilized as fillers in this work to prepare the nanocomposites. In PTA and functional CNTs system, better compatibility between the organic matrix and the filler was confirmed using field effect scanning electron microscope. The micrographs revealed that the nanotubes were well dispersed in the matrix and packaging of polymer over the surface of functional CNTs. The interaction between polymer chains and functional reinforcement produced mechanical and heat-stable nanocomposites. The tensile strength of the functional CNT-based hybrids 53.21–57.11 MPa was improved as compared with the nonfunctional system (32.79 MPa). The 10% gravimetric loss (513–556°C) and the glass transition temperature of PTA/functional CNTs (184–191°C) depicted a considerable improvement over PTA/nonfunctional CNTs. The results showed the enhanced interactions between the two phases in PTA/functional CNT-based nanocomposites relative to PTA/nonfunctional CNTs.