Surface treatment of carbon nanoparticles by nitrogen/oxygen alternating current arc discharge and the application in ABS/EPDM composites

Abstract The combination of an alternating current arc reactor and a fluidized bed has been developed to offer a new route for the surface modification of carbon nanoparticles. In this method, O- and N-doped carbon nanoparticles were successfully obtained after treatment under different plasma atmospheres. The treated and untreated particles were then melt-blended with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/ethylene-propylene-diene monomer composites to reinforce the mechanical and electrical properties. The results showed that, after surface modification, polar functional groups were successfully introduced onto the surface of carbon nanoparticles but the crystalline structure had been changed. Tensile strength and impact strength of ABS/EPDM filled with treated particles have been remarkably improved since the incompatible carbon nanoparticles could be imbedded into the matrix compatibly after modification while electrical resistivity showed complex variation tendency.