scholarly journals The effect of the surface modification of carbon nanotubes on their dispersion in the epoxy matrix

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Wladyka-Przybylak ◽  
Dorota Wesolek ◽  
Weronika Gieparda ◽  
Anna Boczkowska ◽  
Ewelina Ciecierska

The effect of the surface modification of carbon nanotubes on their dispersion in the epoxy matrix Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has an effect on the dispersion of MWCNT in the epoxy matrix. Samples based on two kinds of epoxy resin and different weight percentage of MWCNTs (functionalized and non-functionalized) were prepared. Epoxy/carbon nanotubes composites were prepared by different mixing methods (ultrasounds and a combination of ultrasounds and mechanical mixing). CNTs modified with different functional groups were investigated. Surfactants were used to lower the surface tension of the liquid, which enabled easier spreading and reducing the interfacial tension. Solvents were also used to reduce the liquid viscosity. Some of them facilitate homogeneous dispersion of nanotubes in the resin. The properties of epoxy/nanotubes composites strongly depend on a uniform distribution of carbon nanotubes in the epoxy matrix. The type of epoxy resin, solvent, surfactant and mixing method for homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in the epoxy matrix was evaluated. The effect of CNTs functionalization type on their dispersion in the epoxy resins was evaluated on the basis of viscosity and microstructure studies.

2021 ◽  
pp. 002199832199945
Author(s):  
Dinesh Kumar ◽  
Suneev Anil Bansal ◽  
Navin Kumar ◽  
Prashant Jindal

The present work has been aimed to synthesize Polyurethane (PU)/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite using a two-step method to enhance mechanical properties. In the first step, films (0.2 mm thickness) have been synthesized using a solution mixing method to disperse MWCNTs in the PU matrix. In the second step, thin films of uniformly dispersed MWCNTs in the PU matrix have been compression molded to synthesize PU/MWCNTs composite required for real mechanical applications. The two-step method has the advantages of solution mixing as well as compression molding method. The results of quasi-static nanoindentation tests indicated that in comparison to pure PU, elastic modulus and hardness have been enhanced by 124% and 53% respectively for 10 wt% PU/MWCNTs composite. Fracture resistance of PU/MWCNTs composites, with 7 wt% of MWCNTs, has been enhanced by 52% as compared to pure PU. To understand bulk behavior, nanoindentation results have been cross-verified with compression testing. Results of compressive testing shown that the modulus of composite material has been significantly improved under the influence of the increasing composition of MWCNTs. A noticeable improvement of 52% has been observed in compressive modulus of 10 wt% composite in equivalence to pure PU. The overall improvement in mechanical behavior has been attributed to the uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in the PU matrix by the two-step synthesis method.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Ali Mirsalehi ◽  
Amir Ali Youzbashi ◽  
Amjad Sazgar

AbstractIn this study, epoxy hybrid nanocomposites reinforced by carbon fibers (CFs) were fabricated by a filament winding. To improve out-of-plane (transverse) mechanical properties, 0.5 and 1.0 Wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were embedded into epoxy/CF composites. The MWCNTs were well dispersed into the epoxy resin without using any additives. The transverse mechanical properties of epoxy/MWCNT/CF hybrid nanocomposites were evaluated by the tensile test in the vertical direction to the CFs (90º tensile) and flexural tests. The fracture surfaces of composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM observations showed that the bridging of the MWCNTs is one of the mechanisms of transverse mechanical properties enhancement in the epoxy/MWCNT/CF composites. The results of the 90º tensile test proved that the tensile strength and elongation at break of nanocomposite with 1.0 Wt.% MWCNTs improved up to 53% and 50% in comparison with epoxy/CF laminate composite, respectively. Furthermore, the flexural strength, secant modulus, and elongation of epoxy/1.0 Wt.% MWCNT/CF hybrid nanocomposite increased 15%, 7%, and 9% compared to epoxy/CF laminate composite, respectively.


Author(s):  
Tanjheel H. Mahdi ◽  
Mohammad E. Islam ◽  
Mahesh V. Hosur ◽  
Alfred Tcherbi-Narteh ◽  
S. Jeelani

Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of polymer nanocomposites reinforced with carboxyl functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNT), montmorillonite nanoclays (MMT) and MWCNT/MMT binary nanoparticle were investigated. In this study, 0.3 wt. % of COOH-MWCNT, 2 wt. % of MMT and 0.1 wt. % COOH-MWCNT/2 wt. % MMT binary nanoparticles by weight of epoxy were incorporated to modify SC-15 epoxy resin system. The nanocomposites were subjected to flexure test, dynamic mechanical and thermomechanical analyses. Morphological study was conducted with scanning electron microscope. Addition of each of the nanoparticles in epoxy showed significant improvement in mechanical and viscoelastic properties compared to those of control ones. But, best results were obtained for addition of 0.1% MWCNT/2% MMT binary nanoparticles in epoxy. Nanocomposites modified with binary nanoparticles exhibited about 20% increase in storage modulus as well as 25° C increase in glass transition temperature. Flexural modulus for binary nanoparticle modified composites depicted about 30% improvement compared to control ones. Thus, improvement of mechanical and viscoelastic properties was achieved by incorporating binary nanoparticles to epoxy nanocomposites. The increase in properties was attributed to synergistic effect of MWCNTs and nanoclay in chemically interacting with each other and epoxy resin as well as in arresting and delaying the crack growth once initiated.


Carbon ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1694-1695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Qiu ◽  
Shi-hong Zhang ◽  
Guo-jian Wang ◽  
Yi-lei Gong

2007 ◽  
Vol 253 (22) ◽  
pp. 8945-8951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Xu ◽  
Jinghui Yang ◽  
Jiwei Liu ◽  
Qiang Fu

2009 ◽  
Vol 79-82 ◽  
pp. 553-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Fei Shi ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
Gang Sui ◽  
Xiao Ping Yang

The increasing proliferation and application of advanced polymer composites requires higher and broader performance resin matrices. Poly(oxypropylene) with –NH2 end-groups has been widely used to toughen epoxy resins, but the strength of resin matrix may be reduced due to the addition of flexible segments in the crosslinking network. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been paid more and more attention in recent years because of their superior thermal and mechanical properties. In this paper, CNTs grafted with Jeffamines T403 were used to simultaneously improve the reinforcement and toughening of an epoxy resin. The untreated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (u-MWNTs) were functionalized with amine groups according to three steps: carboxylation, acylation, and amidation. The f-MWNTs were characterized by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The experimental results indicated that the T403 was grafted to the surface of MWCNTs. The mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy with f-MWNTs were investigated. The tensile and flexural strength increased by 7.77 % and 7.03 % after adding 0.5wt% f-MWCNTs without sacrificing the impact toughness. At the same time, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of epoxy with f-MWNTs were increased. The fracture surface of epoxy with f-MWNTs was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the dispersion of f-MWNTs in epoxy matrix and interfacial adhesion between f-MWNTs and epoxy matrix, which can be attributed to the strong interfacial bonding between f-MWNTs and epoxy resin.


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