Improvement of toughness and electrical properties of epoxy composites with carbon nanotubes prepared by industrially relevant processes

• The addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to polymeric matrices or master batches has thepotential to provide composites with novel properties. However, composites with a uniformdispersion of CNTs have proved to be difficult to manufacture, especially at an industrial scale.This paper reports on processing methods that overcome problems related to the control andreproducibility of dispersions. By using a high pressure homogenizer and a three-rollcalendaring mill in combination, CNT reinforced epoxies were fabricated by mould castingwith a well dispersed nanofiller content from 0.1 to 2 wt%. The influence of the nano-carbonreinforcements on toughness and electrical properties of the CNT/epoxies was studied. Asubstantial increase of all mechanical properties already appeared at the lowest CNT content of0.1 wt%, but further raising the nanofiller concentration only led to moderate further changes.The most significant enhancement was obtained for fracture toughness, reaching up to 82%.The low percolation thresholds were confirmed by electrical conductivity measurements on thesame composites yielding a threshold value of only about 0.01 wt%. As corroborated by athorough microscopic analysis of the composites, mechanical and electrical enhancement pointsto the formation of an interconnected network of agglomerated CNTs.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Kompositmaterial och -teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Composite Science and Engineering (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Polymerteknologi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Polymer Technologies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

CNT

Epoxy

Materialvetenskap

Materials Science

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