The effects of CNT alignment on electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of SWNT/epoxy nanocomposites

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1644-1648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Wang ◽  
Jianfeng Dai ◽  
Weixue Li ◽  
Zhiqiang Wei ◽  
Jinlong Jiang
Aerospace ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aikaterini-Flora Trompeta ◽  
Elias Koumoulos ◽  
Sotirios Stavropoulos ◽  
Theodoros Velmachos ◽  
Georgios Psarras ◽  
...  

Epoxy composites are widely used in primary aerospace structures, where high impact damage properties are necessary. However, challenges appear when multiple functionalities, including electrical and thermal conductivity, are needed in parallel with increased mechanical properties. The current study aims at the assessment of a critical concentration of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), incorporated in epoxy resin, which will indicate a threshold for optimal electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. For the evaluation of this optimal concentration, electrical conductivity, thermal stability and nanomechanical properties (Young modulus and nanohardness) have been assessed, for epoxy nanocomposites with 0 to 15 parts per hundred resin per weight (phr) MWCNTs. Percolation theory was applied to study the electrical conductivity for different contents of MWCNTs in the epoxy nanocomposite system. Thermogravimetric analysis was employed for the assessment of the epoxy composites’ thermal properties. Nanohardness and elastic modulus were measured, and the hardness versus modulus index was calculated. Emphasis was given to the dispersion of MWCNTs in the epoxy matrix, which was assessed by both microscopy techniques and X-ray micro–computed tomography. A correlation between the optimum dispersion and MWCNTs content in terms of electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and nanomechanical properties revealed a threshold concentration at 3 phr, allowing the manufacturing of aerospace structures with multifunctional properties.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 4128
Author(s):  
Matheus Mendes de Oliveira ◽  
Sven Forsberg ◽  
Linnéa Selegård ◽  
Danilo Justino Carastan

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) are used to enhance electrical and mechanical properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites. Despite the evidence of synergetic effects in the hybrid GNP-CNT-epoxy system, there is still a lack of studies that focus on the influence of different dispersion methods on the final properties of these ternary systems. In the present work, direct and indirect ultrasonication methods were used to prepare single- and hybrid-filled GNP-CNT-epoxy nanocomposites, varying the amplitude and time of sonication in order to investigate their effect on electrical and thermomechanical properties. Impedance spectroscopy was combined with rheology and electron microscopy to show that high-power direct sonication tends to degrade electrical conductivity in GNP-CNT-epoxy nanocomposites due to damage caused in the nanoparticles. CNT-filled samples were mostly benefitted by low-power direct sonication, achieving an electrical conductivity of 1.3 × 10−3 S·m−1 at 0.25 wt.% loading, while indirect sonication was not able to properly disperse the CNTs and led to a conductivity of 1.6 ± 1.3 × 10−5. Conversely, specimens filled with 2.5 wt. % of GNP and processed by indirect sonication displayed an electrical conductivity that is up to 4 orders of magnitude higher than when processed by direct sonication, achieving 5.6 × 10−7 S·m−1. The introduction of GNP flakes improved the dispersion state and conductivity in hybrid specimens processed by indirect sonication, but at the same time impaired these properties for high-power direct sonication. It is argued that this contradictory effect is caused by a selective localization of shorter CNTs onto GNPs due to strong π-π interactions when direct sonication is used. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the addition of nanofillers improved epoxy’s storage modulus by up to 84%, but this property is mostly insensitive to the different processing parameters. Decrease in crosslinking degree and presence of residual solvent confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, however, diminished the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites by up to 40% when compared to the neat resin due to plasticization effects.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanyu Jia ◽  
Guangyao Li ◽  
Juan Wang ◽  
shouhua Su ◽  
Jie Wen ◽  
...  

Conductivity, self-healing and moderate mechanical properties are necessary for multifunctional hydrogels which have great potential in health-monitor sensor application. However, the combination of electrical conductivity, self-healing and good mechanical properties...


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3140
Author(s):  
Kamil Dydek ◽  
Anna Boczkowska ◽  
Rafał Kozera ◽  
Paweł Durałek ◽  
Łukasz Sarniak ◽  
...  

The main aim of this work was the investigation of the possibility of replacing the heavy metallic meshes applied onto the composite structure in airplanes for lightning strike protection with a thin film of Tuball single-wall carbon nanotubes in the form of ultra-light, conductive paper. The Tuball paper studied contained 75 wt% or 90 wt% of carbon nanotubes and was applied on the top of carbon fibre reinforced polymer before fabrication of flat panels. First, the electrical conductivity, impact resistance and thermo-mechanical properties of modified laminates were measured and compared with the reference values. Then, flat panels with selected Tuball paper, expanded copper foil and reference panels were fabricated for lightning strike tests. The effectiveness of lightning strike protection was evaluated by using the ultrasonic phased-array technique. It was found that the introduction of Tuball paper on the laminates surface improved both the surface and the volume electrical conductivity by 8800% and 300%, respectively. The impact resistance was tested in two directions, perpendicular and parallel to the carbon fibres, and the values increased by 9.8% and 44%, respectively. The dynamic thermo-mechanical analysis showed higher stiffness and a slight increase in glass transition temperature of the modified laminates. Ultrasonic investigation after lightning strike tests showed that the effectiveness of Tuball paper is comparable to expanded copper foil.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingzhong Mao ◽  
Yusheng Zhang ◽  
Yazhou Guo ◽  
Yonghao Zhao

AbstractThe rapid development of high-speed rail requires copper contact wire that simultaneously possesses excellent electrical conductivity, thermal stability and mechanical properties. Unfortunately, these are generally mutually exclusive properties. Here, we demonstrate directional optimization of microstructure and overcome the strength-conductivity tradeoff in copper wire. We use rotary swaging to prepare copper wire with a fiber texture and long ultrafine grains aligned along the wire axis. The wire exhibits a high electrical conductivity of 97% of the international annealed copper standard (IACS), a yield strength of over 450 MPa, high impact and wear resistances, and thermal stability of up to 573 K for 1 h. Subsequent annealing enhances the conductivity to 103 % of IACS while maintaining a yield strength above 380 MPa. The long grains provide a channel for free electrons, while the low-angle grain boundaries between ultrafine grains block dislocation slip and crack propagation, and lower the ability for boundary migration.


2013 ◽  
Vol 706-708 ◽  
pp. 95-98
Author(s):  
Mi Dan Li ◽  
Dong Mei Liu ◽  
Lu Lu Feng ◽  
Huan Niu ◽  
Yao Lu

Polymer matrix composites made from phenolic resin are filled with natural graphite powders. They are fabricated by compression molding technique. The density, electrical conductivity and flexural strength of composite are analyzed to determine the influences of mould pressure and mould pressing time on the physical, electrical and mechanical properties of composite. It is found that the density, electrical conductivity and flexural strength of composites increased with increasing mould pressure. Under pressure of 40 MPa for 60 min, the density, electrical conductivity and flexural strength of composites were 1.85 g/cm3, 4.35  103 S/cm and 70 MPa, respectively. The decreased gaps could be the main reason for the increasing of density, electrical conductivity and flexural strength as mould pressure increases. The results also show that the density of composites increased with increasing mould pressing time.


2010 ◽  
Vol 638-642 ◽  
pp. 273-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Wu Li ◽  
Bai Qing Xiong ◽  
Yon Gan Zhang ◽  
Guo Jun Wang ◽  
Zhi Hui Li ◽  
...  

In this study, the effect of various aging treatment (T6 and T7 treatment) on the mechanical properties, electrical conductivity and the microstructure of an Al-7.5Zn-1.3Mg-1.4Cu-0.12Zr alloy has been investigated. The results show that with elevating the aging treatment temperatures, the aging response rate is greatly accelerated. When T6 temper is performed at 140°C for 12h, as compared to peak aging for 24h at 120°C, the UTS and the corresponding Elongation values keep the same level, whereas the TYS and the electrical conductivity obviously increase by 5% and 9%, which is up to 560 MPa and 22.6 MS/m, respectively. And there are clear PFZs along the grain boundary and slightly coarser precipitates inside the grain. GPI zones, GPII zones and η' phases are major precipitates for the alloy under T6 condition. When T7 temper is performed on the alloy, the main precipitates are GPII zones, η′ and η phases. The coarser precipitates inside the grain and discontinuous grain boundary precipitates are favorable to electrical conductivity, which decrease the strength of 5~17% compared to T6 treatment. After T76 treatment (i.e., 110°C/6 h + 160°C/6 h), the UTS, TYS, Elongation and electrical conductivity values were 540 MPa, 510 MPa, 16.7% and 23.5 MS/m, respectively.


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