Nanocomposites MWNT/epoxy

L. Qiliu, H.D. Wagner, A comparison of the mechanical strength and stiffness of MWNT-PMMA and MWNT-epoxy nanocomposites. Compos. Interfaces 14 (2007) 285-297. 

Many studies have used these methods for processing of both thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers. Y. Liao (53) dissolved epoxy in a well-dispersed, ultra-sonicated CNT suspension. The solvent was evaporated, and the epoxy was subsequently cured to form a nanocomposite in which the good CNT dispersion was achieved. Jin et al. (54) produced various types of polymer-coated and polymer-grafted MWNT solutions, in some cases evaporating the solvent and subsequently melt-mixing with another polymer. Yudasaka et al. (55) used a mixture of SWNTs and PMMA in monochlorobenzene (MCB) for dispersion, purification and subsequent spin-casting of the material. 

Fig. 13.2 Electrical conductivity (s) of the (a) PET/MWNT and (b) RG-O/epoxy nanocomposites as a function of MWNT and graphene loading. Inset a log-log plot of electrical conductivity vs. reduced MWNTand graphene loading. The solid lines are fits to a power law dependence of electrical conductivity on the reduced fillers loading (13.1) ((a) Reprinted with permission from Hu et al. (2006), Copyright 2006 Elsevier (b) reprinted with permission from Potts et al. (2011), Copyright 2011 Elsevier)...

Polymer-MWNT nanocomposites in ionic liquids were prepared by the immobilization of 1-butylimidazole bromide on to an epoxy group on a... 

As is well known to all, chemical functionalization disrupts the extended n conjugation of CNTs and consequently reduces the electrical conductivity of functionalized CNTs. Silane-functionalized CNT/epoxy nanocomposites exhibited lower electrical conductivity than did untreated CNT composites at the same content of CNTs. In 2005, Cho and co-workers observed that the electrical conductivity of the surface-functionalized MWNT composites was lower than that of the untreated MWNT composites with the identical content of CNTs. This is attributed to the increased defects in the lattice stmaure of carbon-carbon bonds on the surface of CNTs due to the acid treatment. Generally, the severe functionalization of CNTs can sigrtificantly lower the conductivity of the composites. However, several researchers have foimd that the fimaionalization of CNTs could improve the electrical conductivity of the composites. In 2005, Tambutri and co-workers reported that the functionalization of SWNTs with -COOH and -OH groups enhanced the conductivity of composites compared to untreated SWNTs. 

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