TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving the mechanical properties of epoxy using multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized by a novel plasma treatment
AU - Chen, Zhiqiang
AU - Dai, Xiujuan J.
AU - Magniez, Kevin
AU - Lamb, Peter R.
AU - Rubin De Celis Leal, David
AU - Fox, Bronwyn L.
AU - Wang, Xungai
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2013/2/1
Y1 - 2013/2/1
N2 - Achieving both uniform dispersion and good interfacial adhesion have been long-term challenges in optimizing the properties of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites. A novel and effective plasma method, which combines continuous and pulsed plasma modes in a nitrogen and hydrogen gas mixture (15% H2), has been developed to better meet this need. It has yielded high levels of primary amines on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes which improved their dispersion and interfacial bonding with an epoxy resin. By adding just 0.1 wt% of these nanotubes to Bisphenol F epoxy resin, the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, from nano to macro, were significantly improved. Nanoindentation tests showed that the hardness and elastic modulus increased by 40% and 19%, respectively, using the functionalized nanotubes. Macro-mechanical properties from thermo-mechanical and flexural analysis were also enhanced, with a nearly 40% improvement in toughness.
AB - Achieving both uniform dispersion and good interfacial adhesion have been long-term challenges in optimizing the properties of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites. A novel and effective plasma method, which combines continuous and pulsed plasma modes in a nitrogen and hydrogen gas mixture (15% H2), has been developed to better meet this need. It has yielded high levels of primary amines on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes which improved their dispersion and interfacial bonding with an epoxy resin. By adding just 0.1 wt% of these nanotubes to Bisphenol F epoxy resin, the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, from nano to macro, were significantly improved. Nanoindentation tests showed that the hardness and elastic modulus increased by 40% and 19%, respectively, using the functionalized nanotubes. Macro-mechanical properties from thermo-mechanical and flexural analysis were also enhanced, with a nearly 40% improvement in toughness.
KW - A. Particle-reinforcement
KW - B. Mechanical properties
KW - D. Surface analysis
KW - E. Surface treatments
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870772168&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.09.005
DO - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.09.005
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84870772168
SN - 1359-835X
VL - 45
SP - 145
EP - 152
JO - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
JF - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
ER -