Tuning the phase separated morphology and resulting electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube filled PαMSAN/PMMA blends by compatibilization with a random or block copolymer
Compatibilizers' efficiency in tuning a phase separated blend morphology and the resulting conductivity was studied. Selective localization of MWNTs and compatibilization of phase separating blends by copolymers was the adopted approach. A study of the effects of copolymer architecture and molecular weight (Mw) was used to tailor the MWNT percolated network. A block copolymer is an effective compatibilizer irrespective of its Mw but a high Mw is required for the random copolymer. A double percolated network of MWNTs resulted in a pronounced increase in the conductivity at low MWNTs concentration.