THE INFLUENCE OF PROCESSING METHOD ON THE CRITICAL PERCOLATION OF SWNT-IL-EPOXY COMPOSITES

摘要

Processing of nanocomposites strongly influences final material performance. This workrninvestigates the dispersion of SWNT-epoxy composites processed by two different methods.rnTwo sets of composite material with identical compositions were synthesized using an ionicrnliquid dispersant/initiator. One set of material was processed by rotational shear mixing, thernother by three roll milling. The SWNT dispersion of resulting SWNT-epoxy composites wasrnevaluated using SEM imaging, and electrical conductivity measurements in conjunction withrnpercolation theory analysis. Critical percolation occurs at much lower volume fraction forrnsamples prepared using three-roll milling which suggests the formation of a more uniformlyrndispersed system using this processing method.