Reinforcement of Rubbery Epoxy Polymers with Alkyl-and Polyoxypropylene-amine Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

摘要

The incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in various types of polymers, including epoxy resins, can lead to significant improvement of their mechanical1, thermal2, conductive3,4 and barrier5 properties. Epoxy resins are an important class of high performance polymers with unique properties and useful applications in both the glassy and rubbery state6. Glassy (rigid-high Tg) epoxy nanocomposites with various types of carbon structures, e.g. carbon black (CB)7, activated carbon (AC)8, carbon fibers (CFs)9 and carbon nanotubes10 have been extensively studied so far, often exhibiting substantial improvements, especially with regard to mechanical strength and electrical/thermal conductivity. In this study, we focus on the development of rubbery epoxy systems reinforced with a series of multi wall carbon nanotubes variants, i.e. with varying length and width, being also surface modified with carboxyl groups (-COOH), various alkyl-amines (CxHy-NH2) or polyoxypropylene amines (Jeffamine D-2000). The effect of mixing conditions and percentage loading of CNTs (0.01 – 2 wt%) were also investigated. The mechanical properties of the epoxy polymer were significantly enhanced, especially with the hexamethyl amine functionalized MWCNTs, without sacrificing the thermal stability of the nanocomposites.