Optimization of electrical and mechanical properties of a single-walled carbon nanotube composite using a three-roll milling method

In this study, the electrical and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites were optimized using a three-roll milling dispersion method. Depending on the number of CNT walls, such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), the three-roll milling conditions required to optimize the electrical conductivity of CNT/PDMS composites are quite different. In addition, the mechanical properties of the CNT/PDMS composites depend on the dispersion time. These properties were improved under an appropriate three-roll milling time but gradually deteriorated after excessive processing time. To demonstrate and optimize this phenomenon, various mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the CNT/PDMS composites were measured with respect to the type of CNT, milling time, and filler weight fraction. Morphological and structural analyses were also conducted on the CNT fillers and composites after milling.