ABSTRACT: Carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer nanocomposites (CPNs) have recently drawn great interest for use in electronics, due to their superior properties such as tunable electrical conductivity, light weight, low cost, corrosion resistance, processability, etc. (compare with properties of currently used metals). In fact, the polymer matrix is insulative; however, incorporating a low content of conductive filler transforms it into conductive via forming a conductive network. Enhanced conductive network within CPNs favours electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, whereas deteriorated conductive network could be desirable for charge storage applications. Accordingly, during my research career, I employed different techniques such as compression molding, injection molding, incorporating secondary insulative filler, foaming, surface-oxidized metallic nanowires, and nitrogen doping of CNTs to improve or destroy conductive network to obtain desired final properties. In this talk, I will mainly focus on the effect of various injection molding parameters, i.e. melt temperature, mold temperature, injection pressure and injection velocity on CNT alignment, and thus electrical properties of CPNs. The second part of the presentation will be dedicated to the impact of nitrogen doping of CNTs on the final electrical properties of CPNs.
Bio-Sketch: Mohammad Arjmand is a postdoctoral scholar in the Polymer Processing Group at the University of Calgary. He received his PhD from the University of Calgary in 2014 and MSc from Sharif University of Technology in 2009, both in Chemical Engineering. Dr. Arjmand’s main research interests are conductive nanomaterials synthesis and characterization (carbon nanotube, metallic nanowire, and graphene), and morphology development and characterization of multi-functional polymeric nanocomposites. Dr. Arjmand is honored with numerous institutional, provincial, national, and international awards in his academic career. He has disseminated 1 book, 1 book chapter, 22 journal papers and 38 peer- and panel-reviewed conference publications, and many are under review.