MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL MICROSTRUCTURES INFILTRATED BY CARBON NANOTUBE/EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITE UNDER SHEAR FLOW

摘要

Three-dimensional interconnected microfluidic channels fabricated by the direct-write method were infiltrated with SWCNT/epoxy nanocomposites under high shear flow to mechanically characterize the effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) spatial orientation in thermosetting-matrix nanocomposites. The micron-size fugitive ink filaments were deposited layer by layer in order to form a scaffold followed by its encapsulation by an epoxy resin. Three-dimensional interconnected microfluidic channels were then obtained by heat curing the encapsulated epoxy followed by fugitive ink removal by liquefying it at high temperature under vacuum. To debundle the Laser-ablated single-walled carbon nanotubes (La-SWNTs), nitric acid treatment following introduction of protoporphyrin IX as surfactant were done to prevent reclustering of the CNTs after separation.