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Nanocomposites featuring polycarbonate with ultra-high conductive properties |
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Polycarbonates, the inexpensive plastics known for their excellent optical and mechanical properties, could in future, find applications into newer and more important horizons. Polycarbonates are tagged as poor electrical conductors, but a research team from University of Houston (UH) has altered this very property by adding carbon nanotubes to them thereby resulting in highly conductive nanocomposites. The team has come up with a strategy to achieve higher conductivities using carbon nanotubes in plastic hosts than what has been currently achieved. By combining nanotubes with polycarbonates, the team was able to reach a milestone of creating nanocomposites with ultra-high conductive properties. Shay Curran, associate professor of physics at UH demonstrated ultra-high electrical conductive properties in these plastics by mixing them with just the right amount and type of carbon nanotubes. As a result, the inexpensive plastic used to make optical discs will feature in high-end military aircrafts to shield them against build up of electrical charges and pulses which can lead to significant failures.
Additionally, by modifying the amount of carbon nanotubes added to the polycarbonate-nanotube mix, the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite could be changed from that of silicon to a few orders below what is achieved by metals. Curran, who initially began this form of research a decade ago at Trinity College, Dublin, started to look at high-conductive plastics in a slightly different manner. The research team has come up with a strategy to achieve higher conductivities using carbon nanotubes in plastic hosts than what has been currently achieved. By combining nanotubes with polycarbonates, the UH team was able to reach a milestone of creating nanocomposites with ultra-high conductive properties for improving the integrity of electronics in aircraft, computers and iPhones.
The development of this ultra-high conductive composite material, can spell benefits for uses ranging from military jets to personal computers to portable electronic devices. Computer failure, for instance, results from the build up of thermal and electrical charges, so developing these polymer nanotube composites into an antistatic coating or to provide a shield against electromagnetic interference would increase the lifespan of such devices.
This feat achieved by UH team perfectly lays groundwork for further things to come. The next step of this research is to develop ink formulations to paint these polycarbonate nanocomposites onto various electrical components. Generally, metal plates are used to dissipate electrical charge in aircrafts. The development of polycarbonate-CNT composite paintable ink could replace metal plates owing to its lightweight properties. This will finally lead to a much lighter aircraft requiring comparatively lesser fuel.
Another key component of this latest research is that pristine nanotubes disbursed in this polycarbonate were found to possess an even higher conductivity than acid-treated carbon nanotubes. Traditionally, the tubes are sonicated, or treated with acid, to clean them and remove soot to get a higher conductivity. This, however, damages the tubes and exposes them to defects. Instead, Curran and his group were able to centrifuge, or swirl them. This takes a little longer, but increases the potential to have higher conductivities.
While using metal plates for electrostatic dissipation in aircrafts and other electronic devices certainly adds weight and increases costs while remaining rigid. Taking this into perspective, the development of paintable ink formulations of polycarbonate-nanotubes nanocomposites could be well greeted by the industry due to its obvious benefits of low cost, weight reduction and higher efficiency. |
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