MWCNTs Dispersion

MWCNTs Dispersion

The dispersion of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) refers to the process of evenly distributing MWCNTs in a liquid or matrix to avoid clumping or aggregation. Due to their high surface energy, MWCNTs tend to agglomerate or bundle together due to van der Waals forces, which can significantly reduce their performance in various applications. Dispersing MWCNTs properly is essential for unlocking their potential in several fields, as it ensures the uniform distribution of the nanotubes within the host material, thus preserving their desirable properties, such as electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and thermal properties.

The dispersion process involves breaking the MWCNT bundles and distributing individual nanotubes into a medium, which could be either a solvent, polymer, or another host material. Effective dispersion can be achieved using various methods, such as ultrasonication, chemical functionalization, high shear mixing, or solvent-based methods. The goal is to overcome the strong inter-tube interactions that cause aggregation and enable the MWCNTs to remain separated and uniformly distributed.

MWCNTs can be dispersed in solvents like water, ethanol, acetone, or toluene, or incorporated into polymers and other matrices for use in nanocomposites and various industrial applications.