Copolymerization and copolymers of aromatic polymers with carbon nanotubes and products made therefrom

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to the block copolymerization of aromatic polymers with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the CNTs typically being shortened, to form nanotube block copolymers. The present invention is also directed to fibers and other shaped articles made from the nanotube block copolymers of the present invention.

1 . A block copolymer comprising: 
 a) a first block material comprising short single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs); and    b) a second block material comprising an aromatic polyamide polymer.    
     
     
         2 . The block copolymer of  claim 1 , wherein said block copolymer is selected from the group consisting of di-block copolymers, tri-block copolymers, random-block copolymers, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The block copolymer of  claim 1 , wherein the short single-wall carbon nanotubes have lengths that range from about 5 nm about 100 nm.  
     
     
         4 . The block copolymer of  claim 1 , wherein the short single-wall carbon nanotubes aspect ratios that range from about 5 about 100.  
     
     
         5 . The block copolymer of  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic polyamide polymer is poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA).  
     
     
         6 . The block copolymer of  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic polyamide polymer comprises a number of repeat units that ranges from about 2 to about 2000.  
     
     
         7 . The block copolymer of  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic polyamide polymer comprises a number of repeat units that ranges from about 5 to about 50.  
     
     
         8 . The block copolymer of  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic polyamide polymer comprises a number of repeat units that ranges from about 5 to about 30.  
     
     
         9 . The block copolymer of  claim 1 , wherein the block copolymer has a SWNT/aromatic polyamide composition that ranges from about 1/99 SWNT/aromatic polyamide (wt/wt %) to about 99/1 SWNT/aromatic polyamide (wt/wt %).  
     
     
         10 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a first block material comprising functionalized short single-wall carbon nanotubes;    b) providing a second block material comprising aromatic polyamide polymers comprising amide-forming moieties on their ends; and    c) copolymerizing the first block material with the second block material to form a block copolymer material.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the functionalized short single-wall carbon nanotubes are functionalized with chemical moieties selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid groups, acyl chloride groups, and combinations thereof; and wherein the chemical moieties are attached to the functionalized short single-wall carbon nanotubes in a manner selected from the group consisting of end-attached, sidewall attached, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of copolymerizing is carried out in a aprotic solvent capable of dissolving both reactants without degradation of either of said reactant.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the short single-wall carbon nanotubes have lengths that range from about 5 nm about 100 nm.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the short single-wall carbon nanotubes have aspect ratios that range from about 5 about 100.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second block material comprising aromatic polyamide polymers comprises poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA).  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the amide-forming moieties on the ends of said second block material comprising aromatic polyamide polymers comprise an amine moiety.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the aprotic solvent in which the first block material with the second block material are copolymerized is selected from the group consisting of NMP, DMAc, DMF, DMSO, DMI, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a step of spinning the block copolymer material into a fiber.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a step of casting the block copolymer material into a film.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a step of shaping the block copolymer material into a particular shape.  
     
     
         21 . A fiber comprising the block copolymer of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         22 . A film comprising the block copolymer of  claim 1.