Original Article Rheological and electrical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes–polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposites treated at different pH conditions Mahmoud S Dahoud 1 , Rami A Abdel-Rahem 2 , Emad AM Farrag 1 , SS Ibrahim 3 , Ayman S Ayesh 1 and Adil Alshoaibi 4 Abstract This work demonstrates the physical properties of polymer nanocomposites of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at different weight ratios. The results demonstrate that the rheological and electrical properties are significantly improved. The improvement over PVA properties suggests that the func- tionalization of MWCNTs, at optimum pH condition, will improve their dispersion in the PVA matrix and enhance their interaction with polymer matrix. The storage modulus and thermal stability are enhanced with the increase of MWCNTs up to 1.0 wt%. Alternating current electrical results show that the incorporation of MWCNTs into PVA will enhance PVA conductivity and polar character while decreasing impedance. Keywords AC electrical, rheological properties, MWCNTs, PVA 1 Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Jouf University, Tabarjal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan 3 Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 4 Physics Department, Faculty of Science, King Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Corresponding authors: Mahmoud S Dahoud, Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Jouf University, Tabarjal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Rami A Abdel-Rahem, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan. Emails: mahmoudphys@gmail.com; rabdelrahem@uop.edu.jo Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials 1–13 ª The Author(s) 2018 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/0892705718799831 journals.sagepub.com/home/jtc