Silver coated vapor-grown-carbon nanofibers for effective reinforcement of polypropylene-polyaniline

Guy Nesher, Maéva Serror, David Avnir*, Gad Marom

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work utilizes a modification of our process of polymer entrapment in silver to deposit silver crystals on carbon nanofibers at different relative concentrations. The experimental procedure and the characteristics of silver coated nanofibers are presented in detail. The resulting nanofibers are then melt-mixed with a polypropylene-polyaniline blend to form a uniform dispersion that is finally extruded to produce continuous monofilament composites of high axial orientation. The reinforcement effect of the silver coated nanofibers, manifested in the mechanical properties of the monofilament composites, is 3-5 folds higher than that of the pristine nanofibers due to the improved stress transfer mechanism of the former. Additional attractive properties of the new system may result from its anisotropic crystalline structure, enhanced thermal stability, potential electrical conductivity and antibacterial behavior.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)152-159
Number of pages8
JournalComposites Science and Technology
Volume71
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Jan 2011

Keywords

  • A. Carbon fibers
  • A. Metals
  • A. Particle-reinforced composites
  • B. Electrical conductivity
  • B. Mechanical properties

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