Creep behavior of polyurethane nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes

The polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared through in situ polymerization for the creep study. The results show that the presence of CNTs leads to a significant improvement of creep resistance of PU. However, this creep resistance does not increase monotonously with increase of CNT contents because it is highly dependent on the dispersion of CNTs. Several theoretical models were then used to establish the relations between CNT dispersion and final creep and creep–recovery behaviors of nanocomposites. The as-obtained viscoelastic and viscoplastic parameters of PU matrix and structural parameters of CNTs further confirmed the retardation effect by CNTs during creep of the nanocomposite systems. Besides, the time–temperature superposition (TTS) principle was also employed in this work to make a further evaluation on the creep of PU/CNT nanocomposites with long-term time scale.     

Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes/Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) Nanocomposite

A floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD) method was designed and fabricated to produce high-quality and -quantity carbon nanotubes. The design parameters like the hydrogen flow rate; reaction time and reaction temperature were optimized to produce high yield and purity of Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs). Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNTs) were used to prepare natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites. Our first efforts to achieve nanostructures in MWNTs/styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) nanocomposites were formed by incorporating carbon nanotubes in a polymer solution and subsequently evaporating the solvent. Using this technique, nanotubes can be dispersed homogeneously in the NR matrix in an attempt to increase the mechanical properties of these nanocomposites. The properties of the nanocomposites such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break and hardness were studied. Using different percentages of carbon nanotubes from 1 wt% to 10 wt%, several nanocomposites samples were fabricated. Significant improvements in the mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposites showed almost 10% increase in the Young's modulus for 1 wt% of CNTs and up to around 200% increase for 10 wt% of CNTs.     

一步法制备聚氨酯/碳纳米管复合泡沫材料及其性能

采用球磨法将碳纳米管分散到聚醚三元醇中,以水为发泡剂,采用一步法原位聚合制备了聚氨酯(PU)/碳纳米管(CNTs)复合泡沫材料,研究了发泡剂水的添加量和碳纳米管的含量对复合材料密度和性能的影响.结果表明,随水添加量的增加,泡沫材料的密度、压缩模量、拉伸模量以及断裂伸长率呈下降的趋势;碳纳米管的加入大幅度提高了材料的压缩...     

碳纳米管/聚苯胺复合材料的制备及电性能

利用超声波将多壁碳纳米管(CNTs)分散于苯胺盐酸溶液体系中,以过硫酸铵((NH4)2S2O8)为氧化剂,原位聚合法制备碳纳米管/聚苯胺纳米复合材料(CNTs/PANI)。采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)、四探针电导率测试仪对复合材料进行表面观察、结构测定和电性能表征。结果表明,复合材料为核-壳结构,碳纳米管和聚苯胺间存在相互作用,其电导率随碳纳米管含量的增加而增加。     

Preparation, characterization and properties of acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites

The multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites were prepared through melt compounding method followed by compression molding. The spectroscopic study indicated that a strong interfacial interaction was developed between carbon nanotube (CNT) and the TPU matrix in the nanocomposites. The microscopic observation showed that the CNTs were homogeneously dispersed throughout the TPU matrix well apart from a few clusters. The results from thermal analysis indicated that the glass transition temperature (T_g) and storage modulus (E′) of the nanocomposites were increased with increase in CNTs content and their thermal stability were also improved in comparison with pure TPU matrix. The rheological analysis showed the low frequency plateau of shear modulus and the shear thinning behavior of the nanocomposites. The electrical behaviors of the nanocomposites are increased with increase in weight percent (wt%) of CNT loading. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites were substantially improved by the incorporation of CNTs into the TPU matrix.     

碳纳米管在聚合物基体中的分散与有序排列研究--(Ⅰ)碳纳米管在聚合物基体中的分散

聚合物/碳纳米管（CNT）纳米复合材料，可将聚合物良好的加工性能和碳纳米管（CNTs）优异的功能化性质结合起来.目前，面临的主要挑战之一是如何提高CNTs在聚合物基体中的分散性.文中综述了优化物理共混、原位聚合和化学修饰等方法在改善CNTs在聚合物基体中分散性方面的最新研究动态。     

Influence of metal nanoparticle decorated CNTs on polyurethane based electro active shape memory nanocomposite actuators

Polymer nanocomposites based on thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) elastomer and metal nanoparticle (Ag and Cu) decorated multiwall carbon nanotubes (M-CNTs) were prepared through melt mixing process and investigated for its mechanical, dynamic mechanical and electro active shape memory properties. Structural characterization and morphological characterization of the PU nanocomposites were done using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphological characterization revealed better dispersion of M-CNTs in the polyurethane, which is attributed to the improved interaction between the M-CNTs and polyurethane. Loading of the metal nanoparticle coated carbon nanotubes resulted in the significant improvement on the mechanical properties such as tensile strength of the PU composites in comparison to the pristine carbon nanotubes (P-CNTs). Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polyurethane increases slightly with increasing loading of both pristine and metal nanoparticle functionalized carbon nanotubes. The metal nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotubes also showed significant improvement in the thermal and electrical conductivity of the PU/M-CNTs nanocomposites. Shape memory studies of the PU/M-CNTs nanocomposites exhibit remarkable recoverability of its shape at lower applied dc voltages.     

Carbon nanotubes based high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber nanocomposite with excellent elasticity and electrical properties

In the present study, we have fabricated a series of high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTVSR)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites with different CNT contents. The CNTs were pretreated by the chitosan salt before being incorporated into the HTVSR. The nanocomposites were then characterized in terms of morphological, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties. It was found that the chitosan salt pretreated CNTs dispersed uniformly within the HTVSR matrix, improving the thermal and mechanical properties of the HTVSR. The nanocomposites could remain conductive without losing inherent properties after 100 times of repeated stretching/release cycles by 100%, 200%, and even 300%. Moreover, the nanocomposites had good response to the compressed pressures. The results obtained from this study indicate that the fabricated nanocomposites are potential to be used in many electrical fields such as the conductive elastomer or the pressure sensor.     

Temperature dependence of electrical conductivity in double-wall and multi-wall carbon nanotube/polyester nanocomposites

The aim of this study is to investigate temperature dependence of electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube (CNT)/polyester nanocomposites from room temperature to 77 K using four-point probe test method. To produce nanocomposites, various types and amounts of CNTs (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 wt.%) were dispersed via 3-roll mill technique within a specially formulized resin blend of thermoset polyesters. CNTs used in the study include multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) with and without amine functional groups (–NH₂). It was observed that the incorporation of carbon nanotubes into resin blend yields electrically percolating networks and electrical conductivity of the resulting nanocomposites increases with increasing amount of nanotubes. However, nanocomposites containing amino functionalized carbon nanotubes exhibit relatively lower electrical conductivity compared to those with non-functionalized carbon nanotubes. To get better interpretation of the mechanism leading to conductive network via CNTs with and without amine functional groups, the experimental results were fitted to fluctuation-induced tunneling through the barriers between the metallic regions model. It was found that the results are in good agreement with prediction of proposed model.     

Microstructure and properties of polyurethane nanocomposites reinforced with methylene-bis-ortho-chloroanilline-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Methylene-bis-ortho-chloroanilline (MOCA), an excellent cross-linker widely used to prepare cured polyurethane (PU) elastomers with high performance, was used to modify a multi-walled carbon nanotube. PU/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites were prepared by incorporation of the MOCA-grafted CNT into PU matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectra have shown that the modified CNTs have been linked with PU matrix. The microstructure of composites was investigated by Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results of Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry have investigated the grafted CNTs as cross-linker in the cured composites. The studies on the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites have indicated that the storage modulus and tensile strength, as well as glass transition temperature and thermal stability are significantly increased with increasing CNT content.     

Enhanced dispersion of carbon nanotubes in hyperbranched polyurethane and properties of nanocomposites

Hyperbranched polyurethane (HBPU) nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by in?situ polymerization on the basis of poly(ε-caprolactone)diol as the soft segment, 4,4'-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) as the hard segment, and castor oil as the multifunctional group for the hyperbranched structure. A dominant improvement in the dispersion of MWNTs in the HBPU matrix was found, and good solubility of HBPU-MWNT nanocomposites in organic solvents was shown. Due to the well-dispersed MWNTs, the nanocomposites resulted in achieving excellent shape memory properties as well as enhanced mechanical properties compared to pure HBPU.     

Fabrication and characterization of elastomeric polyester/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites for biomedical application

A novel biodegradable polymer elastomer nanocomposite composing of poly(1,8-octanediol-citrate) (POC) polymer matrix and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) additive was successfully fabricated and systematically investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile test, incubation and cytotoxicity tests. It was found that the addition of CNTs in POC elastomer did not result in any noticeable change in its chemical structure and the amorphous state. However, the tensile strength and elongation at break were greatly improved by the addition of CNTs in POC polymer matrix. It revealed that the swelling ratio and percentage of weight loss of POC/CNTs nanocomposite were lower, compared with the pure POC material. Moreover, the adsorption amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA) increased with an increase of the CNTs mass content in POC matrix revealing the enhanced hydrophilicity of POC/CNTs nanocomposites contributed by the carboxyl of the CNTs. Additionally, the cytotoxicity tests with L929 cell line revealed that the experimental POC/CNTs nanocomposites possessed good in vitro biocompatibility.     

Evaluating the orientation and dispersion of carbon nanotubes inside nanocomposites by a focused-ion-beam technique

Poly ether ether ketone (PEEK)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposites were fabricated to characterize and understand the orientation and dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a polymer matrix. A focused-ion-beam (FIB) technique was used for milling the nanocomposite by a focused gallium ion beam, and the MWNTs were carefully observed. The PEEK preferentially disappeared when the Ga⁺ ion beam milled the composite, and MWNTs were exposed on the surface of composites. Using this method, it is very easy to estimate and directly evaluate the orientation of the MWNTs in the polymer matrix even though they are embedded in the polymer matrix. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to characterize the detailed position of the nanotubes in the PEEK matrix.     

化学镀镍碳纳米管的制备及其电磁学和吸波性能研究

首先对碳纳米管(CNTs)进行纯化、敏化、活化预处理,然后利用化学镀方法在其表面沉积金属镍而制备出镀镍碳纳米管(M-CNTs)。SEM、TEM、EDS、XRD和DSC等综合表征结果表明,通过化学镀工艺,在CNTs表面均匀连续的镀覆了一层厚度约为20nm的非晶态镍镀层,且碳纳米管的分散性得到了改善,更有利于用于复合材料领域。原料碳纳米管和镀镍碳纳米管的电磁学性能的对比研究结果表明,M-CNTs的电导率较CNTs有所降低,这也间接反映了镍镀层在CNTs表面的形成;在4～18GHz内,M-CNTs的ε′、ε″、μ和μ″4个电磁参数均较CNTs均有所增加。在此基础上,进一步以M-CNTs为吸波剂,聚氨酯(PU)为粘结剂,制备了PU/M-CNTs吸波涂料,对其吸波性能的研究结果表明,PU/M-CNTs吸波涂料的吸波效果明显受涂层厚度影响,在1.0～2.0mm的范围内,随着涂层厚度的逐渐增大,其吸收峰逐渐向低频移动,且低频段的吸波效果得以加强,高频段的吸波效果有所减弱。     

Effect of Carbon Black on the Strain Sensing Property of 3D Printed Conductive Polymer Composites

Applied Composite Materials - In this work, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB) filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites (CNT/TPU and CB/CNT/TPU) were used to prepare the...     

Vibration damping characteristics of carbon fiber-reinforced composites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Vibration damping characteristic of nanocomposites and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) containing multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied using the free and forced vibration tests. Several vibration parameters are varied to characterize the damping behavior in different amplitudes, natural frequencies and vibration modes. The damping ratio of the hybrid composites is enhanced with the addition of CNTs, which is attributed to sliding at the CNT-matrix interfaces. The damping ratio is dependent on the amplitude as a result of the random orientation of CNTs in the epoxy matrix. The natural frequency shows negligible influence on the damping properties. The forced vibration test indicates that the damping ratios of the CFRP composites increase with increasing CNT content in both the 1st and 2nd vibration modes. The CNT-epoxy nanocomposites also show similar increasing trends of damping ratio with CNT content, indicating the enhanced damping property of CFRPs arising mainly from the improved damping property of the modified matrix. The dynamic mechanical analysis further confirms that the CNTs have a strong influence on the composites damping properties. Both the dynamic loss modulus and loss factor of the nanocomposites and the corresponding CFRPs show consistent increases with the addition of CNTs, an indication of enhanced damping performance.     

Masterbatch-based multi-walled carbon nanotube filled polypropylene nanocomposites: Assessment of rheological and mechanical properties

Polypropylene (PP)/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared by diluting a PP/MWNT masterbatch by melt compounding with a twin screw extruder and prepared nanocomposites were characterized for their rheological, mechanical and morphological properties in terms of MWNT loading. The rheological results showed that the materials experience a fluid–solid transition at the composition of 2 wt.%, beyond which a continuous MWNT network forms throughout the matrix and in turn promotes the reinforcement. The tensile modulus and yield stress of the nanocomposites are substantially increased relative to the neat polypropylene. Nanotube reinforcement thus enhanced the yield stress, while reducing the ductility. The same behavior is observed in flexural tests. Charpy impact resistance of the notched samples increases slightly by the addition of MWNT, while impact resistance for the un-notched samples decreases with the addition of MWNTs. Finally, optimum in mechanical properties was observed at 2 wt.% MWNTs, which is near the rheological percolation threshold. From transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, it was observed that nanotubes are distributed reasonably uniformly indicating a good dispersion of nanotubes in the PP matrix. These results reveal that, preparation of nanocomposites from masterbatch dilution is an excellent method to obtain well-dispersed CNTs, while limiting the handling difficulties in plastics processing industrial workshops.     

碳纳米管/聚苯乙烯复合材料的制备及流变行为

强酸氧化法对多壁碳纳米管(CNTs)进行了纯化,用FT-IR和TEM对CNTs的纯化效果和形态进行了表征。制备了CNTs/PS纳米复合材料,在ARES-RFS型旋转流变仪上对复合材料的动态流变行为进行了研究。结果表明,与纯聚合物相比,CNTs的加入使复合材料熔体呈现出由类液体粘弹行为向类固体粘弹行为的转变,表现为在低剪切速率作用下,纳米复合材料的黏度和储存模量对频率的依赖性变小。     

Carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites—A state of the art

Because of their high mechanical strength, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are being considered as nanoscale fibres to enhance the performance of polymer composite materials. Novel CNT-based composites have been fabricated using different methods, expecting that the resulting composites would possess enhanced or completely new set of physical properties due to the addition of CNTs. However, the physics of interactions between CNT and its surrounding matrix material in such nano-composites has yet to be elucidated and methods for determining the parameters controlling interfacial characteristics such as interfacial shear stress, is still challenging. An improvement of the physical properties of polymer nanocomposites, based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), is addicted to a good dispersion and strong interactions between the matrix and the filler.     

Self sensing carbon nanotube (CNT) and nanofiber (CNF) cementitious composites for real time damage assessment in smart structures

The self sensing properties of cementitious composites reinforced with well dispersed carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers were investigated. The electrical resistance of cementitious nanocomposites with w/c = 0.3 reinforced with well dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanofibers (CNFs) at an amount of 0.1 wt% and 0.3 wt% of cement was experimentally determined and compared with resistivity results of nanocomposites fabricated with “as received” nanoscale fibers at the same loading. Results indicate that conductivity measurements, besides being a valuable tool in evaluating the smart properties of the nanocomposites, may provide a good correlation between the resistivity values measured and the degree of dispersion of the material in the matrix. The addition of CNTs and CNFs at different loadings was proven to induce a decrease in electrical resistance, with the nanocomposites containing 0.1 wt% CNTs yielding better electrical properties. Furthermore, conductivity measurements under cyclic compressive loading provided an insight in the piezoresistive properties of selected nanocomposites. Results confirm that nanocomposites, reinforced with 0.1 wt% CNTs and CNFs, exhibited an increased change in resistivity, which is indicative of the amplified sensitivity of the material in strain sensing.