Preparation and Dielectric Properties of Poly( e- caprolactone) Compounded with " Bucky Gels"- Like Mixture

Abstract

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) was melt compounded with Bucky gels-like mixture that prepared by grinding multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and ionic liquids (ILs). Raman spectrum showed the significant interaction between ILs and MWNTs. The dielectric behavior of PCL nanocomposites based on unmodified and IL-modified MWNTs was studied from 40 Hz to 30 MHz. The addition of ILs significantly enhanced the dielectric property of PCL/IL/MWNT ternary nanocomposites, which was much higher than that of the sum of PCL/IL with PCL/MWNT binary nanocomposites. The dielectric properties of PCL/IL/MWNT nanocomposites were mainly influenced by ILs in low frequency and were dominated by MWNTs in high frequency. SEM results revealed that a more uniform and fine dispersion of MWNTs were achieved throughout the PCL matrix because of ILs. The addition of ILs in nanocomposites changed the crystallinity of PCL. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40231.