CNT-based nanocomposites

Thermoset/CNT nanocomposites are processed [80, 81] in a similar way as PCN are prepared. Generally sonication is used to disperse CNT in the resin. Zhou and co-workers [82] incorporated 0-0.4 wt% of MWCNT in epoxy matrix by sonication technique and evaluated their mechanical properties. Improvement in property in all respects was observed up to 0.3 wt% of nanotube. Beyond this concentration the strength and elongation decrease though the modulus keeps increasing. As a result of addition of 0.3 wt% nanotube the tensile strength increases from 93.5 MPa to 121 MPa and % elongation increases from 4.0 wt% to 7.5 wt%. Schadler and coworkers [83] evaluated mechanical properties a MWCNT-epoxy nanocomposites 

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Liu et al., 2005). Chemical functionalization can improve strength, thermal, electronical properties of polymer/CNT composites and will play a key role in future development and applications of CNT-based nanocomposites. 

Another example of how the functionalization of CNTs represents an open issue for the preparation and manipulation of CNT-based nanocomposites with multifunctional properties was reported by Terenzi et It was shown that CNT dispersion affected the rheological properties of... 

FIGURE 3 Three nanoscale RVEs for the analysis of CNT-based nanocomposites [56]. 

Other functionalization methods of CNTs, such as by atomic irradiation, ion deposition, plasma irradiation and proton bombardment, are also frequently used to fabricate CNT based nanocomposites [39-41]. Although functionalization of CNTs can aid to promote interaction between CNTs and the polymer matrix, the main disadvantage of covalent functionalization is that it introduces defects and disrupts the perfect structure of CNTs walls which is detrimental to the desirable mechanical properties of CNTs. 

CNT are cylindrical nanostmcture (Fig. 7) having length starting from hundreds of nanometers to micron and even millimeters and radius in nanometer (Saito et al. 1998). The excellent mechanical and physical properties of CNTs based nanocomposites has motivated researchers in developing high-performance wood polymer nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes (Hazarika and Maji 2014a, b, c, d). The... 

STRUCTURE OF CNT-BASED NANOCOMPOSITES 5.4.1 Preparation of CNTs by Polymerization In Situ... 

Although there is enormous variability in mechanical properties because of local concentration and isotropy variation, the Halpin-Tsai model has been shown to provide reasonably good approximations of the elastic modulus of randomly distributed CNT-based nanocomposites [322,323]. The Halpin-Tsai model (Equations 5.7, 5.8) is specifically for glassy matrix polymers, but it has also shown to be fairly effective for semicrystalline polymers as well [324]. 

Please note that, similarto CNT-based nanocomposites,graphene/ polymer nanocomposites are also seen as promising candidates to make, for instance, transparent electrodes for OPVs and OLEDs in the fiiture. ... 

Figure 5.5 Nanoscale representative volume elements (RVE) for modeling CNT-based nanocomposites, (a) Cylindrical, (b) Rectangular, (c) Hexagonal. Adapted from Ref [57].

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