Mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy composites

Untreated and acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were used to fabricate MWNT/epoxy composite samples by sonication technique. The effect of MWNT addition and their surface modification on the mechanical properties were investigated. Modified Halpin–Tasi equation was used to evaluate the Young’s modulus and tensile strength of the MWNT/epoxy composite samples by the incorporation of an orientation as well as an exponential shape factor in the equation. There was a good correlation between the experimentally obtained Young’s modulus and tensile strength values and the modified Halpin–Tsai theory. The fracture surfaces of MWNT/epoxy composite samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscope.     

Ethanol-sensing properties of potassium bromide/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites

The work reported in this paper is related to the fabrication and electrical characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT)-based solid composites pellets with potential application as gas sensor at room temperature, using potassium bromide as supporting material. Results show an electrical conductivity of the composites as a function of the MWNT loading following a power law associated with a percolation phenomenon. A variation of the electrical resistance of the composites as a function of ethanol concentration in a nitrogen atmosphere has also been observed, allowing detection of ethanol from about hundred of ppm. It is also shown the existence of an optimal MWNT loading for which the composite reaches its best ethanol-sensing performances.     

Multi-walled carbon nanotube/polystyrene composites prepared by in-situ bulk sonochemical polymerization

Nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and polystyrene (PS) were synthesized via an in-situ bulk sonochemical polymerization under the application of ultrasonication to open pi-bonds in the MWNT, thus enhancing the PS polymerization. Sonication of vinyl monomers such as styrene leads to radical initiation of polymerization. Various characteristics such as morphology, thermal property of the synthesized PS in the presence of the MWNT in the PS/MWNT composites were examined by SEM, TEM, thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Their rheological properties were also investigated using a stress-controlled rotational rheometer under small amplitude oscillation and steady transient shear in their melt state.     

脂肪族聚氨酯/磷灰石复合材料的原位制备及性能

为避免芳香族聚氨酯在体内降解时产生有毒物质,选用生物相容性良好的脂肪族聚氨酯(PU)与生物活性的羟基磷灰石(HA)为原料,通过原位聚合法制备了脂肪族PU/HA组织工程用多孔支架,并采用SEM、IR和力学试验等方法对多孔支架的形貌和性能进行了表征,进一步研究了发泡剂(水)用量和HA含量对支架泡孔结构和力学强度的影响。结果表明,当发泡剂用量为1%～1.5%(质量分数)时制得的多孔PU/HA复合支架材料孔隙之间相互贯通,孔径范围分布在300～800μm,大孔壁上分布着孔径为50～200μm的小孔,孔隙率达80%以上。随HA含量增加,支架抗压强度和弹性模量显著上升。综合考虑HA的增强效果和组织工程支架的孔隙结构,本体系中HA的最佳添加量为40%(质量分数),发泡剂的最佳用量为1%(质量分数)。     

Ultrasonically prepared polystyrene/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Polystyrene (PS) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) nanocomposites were synthesized via an in situ bulk polymerization by employing an ultrasonicator without adding an initiator, in which the ultrasonication was found to do a favor in producing well-dispersed MWNT in the PS matrix. Morphology of the as-synthesized PS/MWNT nanocomposite was investigated by both scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Electrical conductivity of the PS/MWNT nanocomposite film fabricated by a solvent casting method was also examined to be enhanced with MWNT content, while average molecular weights of the synthesized PS in the PS/MWNT nanocomposites analyzed by a gel permeation chromatography increased and then saturated at 2 wt% MWNT. Rheological properties of MWNT containing PS were enhanced because of improved dispersion of the MWNT through an interaction between MWNT and PS.     

Magnetically-sensitive shape memory polyurethane composites crosslinked with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Magnetically-sensitive polyurethane composites, which were crosslinked with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and were filled with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, were synthesized via in situ polymerization method. MWCNTs pretreated with nitric acid were used as crosslinking agents. Because of the crosslinking of MWCNTs with polyurethane prepolymer, the properties of the composites with a high content of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, especially the mechanical properties, were significantly improved. The composites showed excellent shape memory properties in both 45 °C hot water and an alternating magnetic field (f = 45 kHz, H = 29.7 kA m⁻¹). The shape recovery time was less than one minute and the shape recovery rate was over 95% in the alternating magnetic field.     

Thermal conductive and electrical properties of polyurethane/hyperbranched poly(urea-urethane)-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotube composites

Hyperbranched poly(urea-urethane)-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (HPU-MWCNTs) were incorporated in a polyurethane (PU) matrix based on poly(ethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran) and aliphatic polyisocyanate resin as curing agent. The 9–12 nm thick HPU shell formed on the MWCNTs improved the dispersion of MWCNTs and enhanced the interfacial adhesion between the PU matrix and MWCNTs, leading to improvements in storage modulus and T_g of the composites and enhancement of the thermal stability of PU. Thus, composites with 0.5–1 wt% MWCNTs increased the thermal conductivity by about 60–70% when compared to, and retained the high electrical resistivity of, neat PU.     

Stress-strain behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotube/PEEK composites

This study examined the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersion on stress-strain behaviors of poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) at room temperature. Tensile test specimens containing 9 wt.% and 15 wt.% of CNT were fabricated using injection molding. Results of focused ion beam (FIB) observations show that many CNTs in the CNT/PEEK composite are aligned longitudinally. Although the PEEK stress-strain behavior is almost linear up to 1.5% strain, the stress-strain curves of CNT/PEEK composites exhibit considerable nonlinear and hysteretic behaviors from extremely low strain (<0.1%) under both tensile and compressive loading. The experimental results suggest that the viscoelastic deformation effects on nonlinear and hysteresis behaviors are not strong below 1.5% strain. Presumably, the slippage at the CNT-PEEK interface occurs with increasing applied stress because of poor interfacial load-transfer capability.     

Microspherical poly(methyl methacrylate)/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites prepared via in situ dispersion polymerization

In this study, microspherical poly(methyl methacrylate)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PMMA/ MWCNT) composites were directly prepared by in situ dispersion polymerization using poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) in methanol media. PMMA/MWCNT microspheres having a diameter of 2.6 approximately 3.9 microm and a molecular weight of 58,000 approximately 65,000 g/mol with a 15.7 approximately 19.5% coefficient of variation (Cv) were synthesized. The morphology of the synthesized composite was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results demonstrated that MWCNTs are well dispersed and embedded in the final PMMA/MWCNT microspheres. The prepared PMMA/MWCNT microspheres were investigated in terms of their capacity to serve as an electrorheological (ER) materials.     

AC-impedance response of multi-walled carbon nanotube/cement composites

AC-impedance spectroscopy (AC-IS) was combined with time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to investigate the impedance response of fiber-reinforced cement (FRC) composites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). In Nyquist plots (−imaginary impedance vs. +real impedance) three impedance arcs/features were observed, similar to Nyquist plots for macrofiber and microfiber FRCs. The intersection of the electrode arc and the intermediate frequency feature (R_DC(FRC)) corresponds to the DC resistance of the composite. The intersection of the two bulk features (R_cusp) corresponds to the AC resistance of the composite. Reductions in (R_DC(FRC)) from the matrix resistance are indicative of a nanotube percolating network. Reductions in R_cusp from the matrix resistance are indicative of a discontinuous fiber–fiber path. Both shifts increased with fiber loading. AC-IS measurements are therefore able to discriminate percolation vs. discontinuous fiber effects in CNT-FRCs, with the potential for characterizing dispersion issues (e.g., clumping/aggregation) in nanocomposites.     

Preparation and properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/poly(organophosphazene) composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising materials because of their unique properties. However, the poor solubility in solvents limits the function of CNTs and hinders their applications in many fields. Surface modification of CNTs with polymers is an efficient method to solve this problem. Several polymers were tested for the preparation of CNT dispersions. In comparison with organic polymers, poly(organophosphazenes) are highly stable macromolecules with adjustable properties which depend on the side groups. This article is to describe the synthesis of thermally stable and soluble multi-walled CNT/poly(organophosphazene) composites. The poly(organophosphazene)s substituted with (a) 100 % quaternary protonated pyridinoxy (PPY), (b) 50 % quaternary protonated pyridinoxy and 50 % a long aliphatic chain alcohol (1-dodecanol) (PDK), and (c) 50 % quaternary protonated pyridinoxy and 50 % a glycol ether [(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol] (PET) have been synthesized. f-MWCNT/poly(organophosphazene) composites have been prepared by the treatment of the functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNT) with the protonated polyphosphazenes (PPY, PDK, and PET) using different feed ratios [R _feed = 1:1, 1:3, 1:5, 1:10 (w:w)]. The thermal stability of prepared composites (f-MWCNT/PPY, f-MWCNT/PDK, and f-MWCNT/PET) have been investigated by TGA. By considering thermal stabilities and solubility of all prepared composites, f-MWCNT/PPY_1:5, f-MWCNT/PDK_1:5, and f-MWCNT/PET_1:5 have been chosen as optimum composite composition and characterized by ³¹P NMR, ¹H NMR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and EDX analysis. The morphologic characterizations of the f-MWCNT/PPY_1:5, f-MWCNT/PDK_1:5, f-MWCNT/PET_1:5 nanocomposites have been carried out by HRTEM. Excellent dispersions of the nanocomposites in water and common organic solvents have been achieved. The solubility and thermal stability of nanocomposites depend on the side groups on poly(organophosphazene).     

混杂功能化多壁碳纳米管/环氧树脂复合材料的制备及性能

对多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)分别进行共价、非共价和混杂功能化改性, 然后采用溶液共混法, 将三种功能化类型的MWCNTs按不同质量分数分别加入环氧树脂(EP)制备MWCNTs/EP复合材料。通过拉伸试验和热重分析, 研究MWCNTs的功能化类型及含量对复合材料力学性能和热学性能的影响, 并对复合材料拉伸试件断面进行SEM观察分析。结果表明: 与共价功能化复合材料(MWCNTs-Epon828/EP)和非共价功能化复合材料(MWCNTs-PPA/EP)相比, 混杂功能化复合材料(MWCNTs-Epon828-PPA/EP)的力学性能和热学性能最佳。当MWCNTs质量分数为0.3%时, 其拉伸强度、弹性模量和断裂伸长率较纯EP分别提高30%, 62%和26%。      

Effects of stretching on mechanical properties of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy composites

Composites based on epoxy resin and differently aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) sheets have been developed using hot-melt prepreg processing. Aligned MWCNT sheets were produced from MWCNT arrays using the drawing and winding technique. Wavy MWCNTs in the sheets have limited reinforcement efficiency in the composites. Therefore, mechanical stretching of the MWCNT sheets and their prepregs was conducted for this study. Mechanical stretching of the MWCNT sheets and hot stretching of the MWCNT/epoxy prepregs markedly improved the mechanical properties of the composites. The improved mechanical properties of stretched composites derived from the increased MWCNT volume fraction and the reduced MWCNT waviness caused by stretching. With a 3% stretch ratio, the MWCNT/epoxy composites achieved their best mechanical properties in this study. Although hot stretching of the prepregs increased the tensile strength and modulus of the composites considerably, its efficiency was lower than that of stretching the MWCNT sheets.     

Reinforcement efficiency of multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy nano composites

Mechanical reinforcement of polymer matrices loaded by carbon nanotubes is expected to benefit by both the high aspect ratio and the very high modulus of such nanofillers and, consequently, it depends not only by their content within the hosting system but also by the state of dispersion. This work analyses the effect on the bending modulus of dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) into an epoxy system. Results indicate that reinforcement efficiency is characterised by two limiting behaviours whose transition region coincides with the development of a percolative network of nanotubes. Well below the percolation threshold, the carbon nanotubes, contribute to the composite modulus with their exceptional modulus (in this case a value of 1.780 TPa was found), whereas it dramatically decreases above this limit due to the reduction of the effective aspect ratio and the micron sized cluster formation. An estimate of the maximum reinforcement induced by carbon nanotubes has been proposed based on percolation and stress transfer theory for large aspect ratio fillers.     

Structure and properties of highly oriented polyoxymethylene/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites produced by hot stretching

Highly-oriented polyoxymethylene (POM)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites were fabricated through solid hot stretching technology. With the draw ratio as high as 900%, the oriented composites exhibited much improved thermal conductivity and mechanical properties along the stretching direction compared with that of the isotropic samples before drawing. The thermal conductivity of the composite with 11.6 vol.% MWCNTs can reach as high as 1.2 W/m K after drawing. Microstructure observation demonstrated that the POM matrix had an ordered fibrillar bundle structure and MWCNTs in the composite tended to align parallel to the stretching direction. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction results showed that the crystal axis of the POM matrix was preferentially oriented perpendicular to the draw direction, while MWCNTs were preferentially oriented parallel to the draw direction. The strong interaction between the POM matrix and the MWCNTs hindered the orientation movement of molecules of POM, but induced the orientation movement of MWCNTs.     

Preparation,characterization and properties of polycaprolactone diol-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyurethane composite

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were chemically functionalized to prepare thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) composites with enhanced properties. In order to achieve a high compatibility of functionalized MWCNTs with the PU matrix, polycaprolactone diol (PCL), as one of PU’s monomers, was selectively grafted on the surface of MWCNTs (MWCNT–PCL), while carboxylic acid groups functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNT–COOH) and raw MWCNTs served as control. Both MWCNT–COOH and MWCNT–PCL improved the dispersion of MWCNTs in the PU matrix and interfacial bonding between them at 1 wt% loading fraction. The MWCNT–PCL/PU composite showed the greatest extent of improvement, where the tensile strength and modulus were 51.2% and 33.5% higher than those of pure PU respectively, without sacrificing the elongation at break. The considerable improvement in both mechanical properties and thermal stability of MWCNT–PCL/PU composite should result from the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNT–PCL in the PU matrix and strong interfacial bonding between them.     

Viscoelastic properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy composites using two different curing cycles

Along with carbon nanotubes (CNT) morphology, impurity, and functionalization, polymer curing cycle is another important factor in determining the mechanical properties of the CNT/polymer composite samples. This work investigates the effect of two different curing cycles on mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of the nanotube in the composite in order to optimize the curing condition in term of time and temperature. Nanocomposite samples were prepared by mixing multi-wall carbon nanotubes with epoxy resin using sonication method. The mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the resulting composite samples were evaluated by performing tensile and dynamic mechanical thermal analyses (DMTA) test. The results indicate that the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of pure epoxy and composite samples have been affected by the condition curing process. Concerning viscoelastic modeling, the COLE–COLE diagram has been plotted by the result of DMTA tests. These results show a good agreement between the Perez model and the viscoelastic behavior of the composite.     

Shape memory and thermo-mechanical properties of shape memory polymer/carbon fiber composites

In this study, chopped carbon fiber reinforced trans-1, 4-polyisoprene (TPI) was developed via a proposed new manufacturing process with the aim of improving weak mechanical properties of bulk TPI bulk. Specimens of the developed shape memory polymer (SMP) composites were fabricated with carbon fiber weight fraction of 5%, 7%, 9%, 11% and 13%, respectively. Measured are the effects of chopped carbon fiber and temperature on: (a) shape recovery ratio and rate; (b) stress–strain relationship; (c) maximum tensile stress, strain and Young’s modulus; and (d) maximum stress and residual strain under a constant strain cyclic loading. In addition, SEM micrographs were also presented to illustrate the fracture surface. The present experimental results show that the SMP with 7% carbon fiber weight fraction appears to perform best in all the tests. This indicates that the 7% carbon fiber weight fraction could be the optimum value for the SMP developed using the proposed manufacturing process.     

Sulfonated polyoxadiazole composites containing carbon nanotubes prepared via in situ polymerization

In the present work, in situ polymerizations of sulfonated polyoxadiazole through a polycondensation reaction of A–A (hydrazine sulphate) and B–B (aromatic dicarboxylic acid) monomers with carbon nanotubes in poly(phosphoric acid) were performed. The structures of composites were characterized by elemental analysis, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The sulfonated polyoxadiazole composites with high molecular weight (in the order of magnitude of 10⁵ g/mol) are soluble in organic solvents and can be cast as dense films. They exhibit good mechanical properties (storage modulus up to around 4 GPa at 300 °C) and an electrical conductivity in the order of 10⁻⁵ S m⁻¹. The composites can be used at temperatures as high as 470 °C.