Fabrication and materials properties of polystyrene/carbon nanotube (PS/CNT) composites: A review

Polystyrene/carbon nanotube (PS/CNT) composites have attracted considerable attention in research and industry fields due to high strength and electrical conductivity of CNT. Recently, several investigations showed that the PS/CNT composites exhibited the significant enhancement in thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties at room and/or high temperatures as well as possessed excellent process-ability which was quite similar to those of pure polymers. In this study, the various processing methods used to fabricate the composites are outlined with a special focus on solution processing, melt mixing, in-situ polymerization, etc. This paper discusses the non-covalent and covalent modifications of CNTs with PS, which are commonly applied to improve the dispersion and compatibility of the PS/CNT composites. The thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of the present composites are also reviewed. The influences of different variables, such as type and content of CNT processing method and temperature, on the electrical responses are also highlighted. The discussion of the different properties in this study concluded that the addition of CNT would be beneficial for improving the materials performance of PS composites for industrial applications.