Functionalized CNTs resin, reaction

Figure 10.2 Proposed reaction mechanism of functionalized CNTs and BMI 5250-4 resin.

Amino-functionalized CNTs were employed in epoxy-based nanocomposites in order to improve the compatibility between matrix and filler [254, 260], as they can covalently bond to the epoxy resins [261]. Their behavior toward UV radiation and moisture was compared to untreated CNTs-filled epoxy nanocomposites. Despite the improved dispersion of modified CNTs, the epoxy matrix was less homogenous due, probably, to a higher amount of oligomers resulted from the degradation reactions. The cracks formation was evidenced by SEM images which also revealed CNTs aggregates on the samples surface, as well as inside cracks. 

The functionalization of CNTs through plasma treatment represents a novel and easy approach to scale up towards industrial applications. In more recent works, there were many attempts to fluorinate CNT sidewalls in such manner. The CF4 plasma treatment of SWNT sidewalls was demonstrated to enhance the reactivity of tubes with aliphatic amines.The cure reaction of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A-based epoxy resin (DGEBA), when reacted with butylamine molecules (BAMs) anchored on to the plasma treated fluorinated SWNTs, was reported. The advantage of this method was that the functionalization could be achieved through a simple approach, which is widely used in thin film technologies. As covalently modified CNTs with fluorine groups offer the opportunity for chemical interactions with the amine systems, it was recently demonstrated that this... 

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