Fabrication and Characterization of Nanocomposites Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes-(2)Testing of Mechanical Properties

Composites of phenolic resin reinforced by the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated and its mechanical properties were measured. The MWCNTs were synthesized by the floating catalyst method in a thermal chemical vapor deposition chamber. Benzene, hydrogen, ferrocene, and thiophene were used as carbon source, carrier gas, catalyst, and growth promoter, respectively. The nano-composites were made by the melt mixing and the resin infiltration methods. Tensile strength, Poisson’s ratio, and modulus were measured and the morphologies on the fracture surface were examined by the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The microstructure of the synthesized MWCNTs reinforced nano-composites was examined by FESEM. The influences of MWCNTs amounts on the mechanical properties of the nano-composites were discussed.