Papers by Author: Zsolt E. Horváth

Abstract: Silicon nitride based composites with 3wt% of single wall carbon nanotubes and exfoliated graphite have been prepared. Optimisation of the manufacturing processes has been conducted to preserve the carbon nanotubes and exfoliated graphite in composites and to avoid damaging during high temperature processing. The first results show that carbon nanotubes and exfoliated graphite have a good contact to the surface of silicon nitride grains. In the case of increase of sintering pressure an increase of bending strength was achieved. It was found that microstructure features achieved by properly designed sintering parameters are the main responsible factors for the strength improvements.

Abstract: The effect of the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes in polycarbonate on the rheological, mechanical and electrical properties of melt-extruded compounds is presented. The dispersion state was monitored by means of grey values distribution histograms of optical micrographs of the composites. Increasing the processing residence time, and hence the deformation induced by the surrounding polymer, increased the level of dispersion of CNTs in the matrix. This, in turn, resulted in a large improvement of the CNTs reinforcement effect and decreased composite electrical resistivity. Rheological behaviour is in agreement with these observations.