The procedure for obtaining nanocomposite by dispersing the nanoparticles in matrix polymer in solution with subsequent elimination of the solvent has been widely used, considering better efficiency in obtaining homogeneity of the final product. However, the presence of residual solvent may affect the nanocomposites in micro-and macroscopic properties of the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the thermal properties of nanocomposites of poly(vinyl chloride)/multi-walled carbon nanotube obtained from the polymer solution and dispersion of carbon nanotubes in tetrahydrofuran (THF), as well as the electrical resistivity of nanocomposites and the influence of residual solvent. The presence of residual tetrahydrofuran reduces the glass transition temperature (Tg) up to 26 °C, being independent of the amount of carbon nanotubes. The total elimination of the solvent is an important factor that does not induce changes in the properties of the polymeric matrix. The graft-COOH groups in the structure of the nanotubes leads to a considerable reduction of the electrical resistivity in ten orders of magnitude, from 0.4 %wt of nanotubes in the nanocomposite composition.
Nanocomposites; carbon nanotubes; PVC
