Ice adhesion to pristine and eroded polymer matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes for potential usage on future aircraft

Rare earth modified acidified carbon nanotubes were prepared by functionalization of acidified carbon nanotubes with different concentrations of LaCl3. The modification results were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The rare earth successfully increases the surface activity of the acidified carbon nanotubes. Polymer matrix composites were prepared by using the rare earth modified acidified carbon nanotubes as the reinforcement in epoxy matrix. Mechanical properties were analyzed by Zwick Z100 testing machine and the tribological behaviors were test by multifunctional tribological tester. Compared with pure epoxy (epoxy resin), the mechanical strength of the best composite sample was increased by 50–120%, the coefficient of friction was reduced by 19.4% and the wear rate was reduced by approximately 40 times. The experimental results show that the RE concentration of 0.2–0.3 wt% has the most obvious influence on the properties of polymer composites. The mechanism of rare earth reinforcement in polymer matrix is analyzed and suggested.

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A Numerical Study on Electrical Percolation of Polymer-Matrix Composites with Hybrid Fillers of Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Black

Journal of Nanomaterials ◽

10.1155/2014/614797 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Yuli Chen ◽

Shengtao Wang ◽

Fei Pan ◽

Jianyu Zhang

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Carbon Black ◽

Percolation Threshold ◽

Polymer Matrix ◽

Polymer Matrix Composites ◽

Matrix Composites ◽

Electrical Percolation ◽

Hybrid Fillers ◽

Nonlinear Relation ◽

Electrical Percolation Threshold

The electrical percolation of polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) containing hybrid fillers of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB) is estimated by studying the connection possibility of the fillers using Monte Carlo simulation. The 3D simulation model of CB-CNT hybrid filler is established, in which CNTs are modeled by slender capped cylinders and CB groups are modeled by hypothetical spheres with interspaces because CB particles are always agglomerated. The observation on the effects of CB and CNT volume fractions and dimensions on the electrical percolation threshold of hybrid filled composites is then carried out. It is found that the composite electrical percolation threshold can be reduced by increasing CNT aspect ratio, as well as increasing the diameter ratio of CB groups to CNTs. And adding CB into CNT composites can decrease the CNT volume needed to convert the composite conductivity, especially when the CNT volume fraction is close to the threshold of PMCs with only CNT filler. Different from previous linear assumption, the nonlinear relation between CB and CNT volume fractions at composite percolation threshold is revealed, which is consistent with the synergistic effect observed in experiments. Based on the nonlinear relation, the estimating equation for the electrical percolation threshold of the PMCs containing CB-CNT hybrid fillers is established.

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