Properties of epoxy nanocomposites filled with carbon nanomaterials

Abstract

Rheological, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites containing carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) were investigated with different loading. Two kinds of CNMs - multiwailed carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and carbon blacks (CBs) - were selected to examine the effect of their geometrical structure on various properties. Under sonication, MWNTs and CBs (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt.-%) were mixed with the epoxy resin by using a solvent. Dispersion of the CNMs in the epoxy nanocomposites was characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/epoxy composites show significant differences from the CBs/ epoxy composites due to their high aspect ratio. It was found that the CNTs/epoxy composites exhibit non-Newtonian rheological behaviour, while the CBs/epoxy composites with the same weight content show Newtonian behaviour. The CNTs/ epoxy composites have better mechanical and thermal properties than the CBs/ epoxy composites. In the CNTs nanocomposites, the percolation threshold of electrical conductivity is found to be less than 0.5 wt.-%, which is too low to be obtained by using other carbon materials such as carbon fibre in polymer composites. Effects of CNM content on the various properties were also examined. As loading of the CNMs increased, improved results were obtained.