Fracture surface analysis nanocomposites

Another important property - wettability was followed by SEM analysis on PS/MWCNTs nanocomposite prepared by in-situ bulk-suspension polymerization (54). Figure 8.7 presents a micrograph of fracture surface of the prepared nanocomposite. The picture very clearly evidences that the nanotubes are covered by a thick layer of polystyrene. Parts of original nanotubes can be identified at the end of the fracture noteworthy is also the smaller diameter at the end of tubes. 

Loos and co-workers [64] studied the effect of CNT on the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of epoxy matrices. Bisphenol A based epoxy resin nanocomposites were prepared with various small proportions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and then investigated using acetone as a diluent to reduce the resin viscosity, and the products after removal of the solvent were characterised by FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), DSC, DMA, tensile, compression, flexural and impact testing, and SEM of the fracture surfaces. The effects of small amounts of SWCNT on mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the nanocomposites are discussed in terms of structural changes in the epoxy matrix. 

Microstructure of the sintered samples was analyzed using the FEGSEM. The density of the sintered samples was measured by the Archimedes method with distilled water as the immersion medium. The XRD analysis was carried out for the powders before and after sintering to determine the chemical composition of each nanocomposite. The fracture surface of the samples was also analyzed using the FEGSEM. 

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