Study on Carbon Nanotube Dispersion Behavior in Epoxy Resin under Synergistic Effect of Continuous Stretching Flow and Ultrasound Oscillation

Abstract:

In this paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersion behavior in epoxy resin under synergistic effect of continuous stretching flow and ultrasound oscillation was studied. A small continuous stretching machine which could provide continuous stretching flow for polymer was designed and manufactured for studying the synergistic effect of continuous stretching flow and ultrasound oscillation on dispersive property. Firstly, the influence of different initial phase angle of dual rotor and mixing time on dispersive property were studied by preparing specimens of CNTs/epoxy resin composite under continuous stretching machine. Then, the synergistic effect of continuous stretching flow and ultrasound oscillation on dispersive property was studied with various ultrasonic power and synergistic time. In this study, the morphology of blends was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that initial phase angle of dual rotor and mixing time had great effect on the dispersion of CNTs in epoxy resin. The degree of CNTs dispersion was best when the initial phase angle of dual rotor was 0°, and increasing mixing time could improve the degree of CNTs dispersion. Increasing ultrasonic power and synergistic time were helpful to disperse CNTs in epoxy resin. It demonstrated that the synergistic effect of continuous stretching flow and ultrasound oscillation had obviously effect on the dispersion of CNTs.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 717)
• Pages: 14-21
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.717.14
• Online since: November 2016
• Authors: Kun Tian Dai, Ying An*, Zhi Wei Jiao, Jin Yu Zhuang, Yong Xin Qin, Yu Mei Ding, Wei Min Yang
• Keywords: Carbon Nanotube, Continuous Stretching Flow, Dispersion, Epoxy Resin, Ultrasound Oscillation

References

[1] Q. Li, M. Zaiser, J.R. Blackford, C. Jeffree, Y. He, V. Koutsos, Mechanical properties and microstructure of single-wall carbon nanotube/elastomeric epoxy composites with block copolymers, Materials Letters, 125 (2014) 116-119.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2014.03.096

[2] L.C. Tang, Y.J. Wan, K. Peng, Y.B. Pei, L.B. Wu, L.M. Chen, L.J. Shu, J.X. Jiang, G.Q. Lai, Fracture toughness and electrical conductivity of epoxy composites filled with carbon nanotubes and spherical particles, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 45 (2013).

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.09.012

[3] Y.H. Chang, K.F. Lin, Physisorption of ionic salts to carbon nanotubes for enhancing dispersion and thermomechanical properties of carbon nanotube-filled epoxy resins, Composites Science and Technology, 90 (2014) 174-179.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2013.11.011

[4] K.P. Unnikrishan, E.T. Thachil, Toughening of epoxy resins, Designed Monomers and Polymer, 9 (2006) 129-152.

DOI: 10.1163/156855506776382664

[5] J. Li, Z. Wu, C. Huang, Z. Chen, R. Huang, L. Li, Plasma functionalization for improving dispersion and interfacial bonding of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in cyanate ester/epoxy nanocomposites, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 433 (2013).

DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2013.04.057

[6] M. Yourdkhani, P. Hubert, A systematic study on dispersion stability of carbon nanotube-modified epoxy resins, Carbon, 81 (2015) 251-259.

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2014.09.056

[7] Q.L. Xiong, S.A. Meguid, Investigation of the Interfacial Mechanical Characteristics of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Epoxy Composite, European Polymer Journal, DOI (2015) 1-15.

DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.05.006

[8] Y. Wang, L. Gao, J. Sun, Y. Liu, S. Zheng, H. Kajiura, Y. Li, K. Noda, An integrated route for purification, cutting and dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes, Chemical Physics Letters, 432 (2006) 205-208.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2006.10.054

[9] O. Park, T. Jeevananda, N. Kim, S. Kim, J. Lee, Effects of surface modification on the dispersion and electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube/polyaniline composites, Scripta Materialia, 60 (2009) 551-554.

DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2008.12.005

[10] M.L. Gupta, S.A. Sydlik, J.M. Schnorr, D.J. Woo, S. Osswald, T.M. Swager, D. Raghavan, The effect of mixing methods on the dispersion of carbon nanotubes during the solvent-free processing of multiwalled carbon nanotube/epoxy composites, Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 51 (2013).

DOI: 10.1002/polb.23225

[11] J. Sha, G. Li, X. Chen, P. Xia, R. Luo, S. Yang, T. Chen, Y. Ma, L. Xie, Simultaneous ultrasonication-assisted internal mixing to prepare MWCNTs-filled epoxy composites with increased strength and thermal conductivity, Polymer Composites, DOI (2014).

DOI: 10.1002/pc.23245

[12] j. Wang, Y. Ding, K. Ma, J. Shao, Y. An, W. Yang, Dispersion of carbon nanotubes at epoxy resin with solvent-free ultrasonic, Plastic, 42 (2013) 5-9.

[13] Q. Liu, J. Tu, X. Wang, W. Yu, W. Zheng, Z. Zhao, Electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube/poly(vinylidene fluoride) composites prepared by high-speed mechanical mixing, Carbon, 50 (2012) 339-341.

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2011.08.051

[14] E. Ciecierska, A. Boczkowska, K.J. Kurzydlowski, I.D. Rosca, S. Van Hoa, The effect of carbon nanotubes on epoxy matrix nanocomposites, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 111 (2012) 1019-1024.

DOI: 10.1007/s10973-012-2506-0

[15] A.I. Isayev, R. Kumar, T.M. Lewis, Ultrasound assisted twin screw extrusion of polymer–nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes, Polymer, 50 (2009) 250-260.

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2008.10.052

[16] Z. Tadmor, C. Gogos, Principles of polymer processing, John Wiley & Sons, New York, (1979).