Electrical and mechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes-reinforced solderable polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

In recent years, carbon nanotubes have attracted attention as potential reinforcement materials for composites. Because there is a current lack of research investigating the electrical and mechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced solderable polymer nanocomposites (SPNs), this study focuses on the influence of MWCNT concentration on the interconnection properties of SPN joints. Six types of MWCNT-reinforced SPNs with 40 vol.% of a low-melting point alloy (LMPA) and chemically functionalized MWCNTs (ranging from 0 to 2 wt%) were formulated. Our results indicate that a wide and stable conduction path was formed for all MWCNT concentrations due to the excellent coalescence and wetting behavior of the molten LMPA. However, the interconnection properties degraded with increasing MWCNT content due to an increase in the number of internal defects that were caused by the polymer matrix becoming trapped in the LMPA joints.