(2599)MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE OF ULTRASONICATED AND FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON NANOTUBE-BASED GLASS/EPOXY COMPOSITES

摘要

An alternative approach to the development of advanced structural composites based on engineered multi-scale carbon nanotube (CNT)-glass fiber reinforcement has been examined. Electrophoresis was used to deposit multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto unidirectional E-glass fabric prior to the infusion with epoxy resin for the production of E-glass/epoxy composites. CNTs were functionalized using ozone treatment for oxidation, followed by chemical reaction with polyethyleneimine (PEI). A previously reported recirculating system was used which enabled ozonolysis to be conducted on large-volume solutions of CNTs in the presence of high-powered sonication. The sonicated-ozonolysis enables the preparation of stable CNT dispersions that are suitable for electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Increases in the in-plane shear strength of the E-glass/epoxy composites with the CNT treatment have been measured relative to composites without the CNT treatment. Fracture analysis suggests that the improved strength is related to improved adhesion at the glass-epoxy interface, relative to the untreated laminate. The E-glass/epoxy composites prepared with the carbon nanotubes-EPD treatment also demonstrate a significantly increased in-plane electrical conductively, although some anisotropy in conductivity was observed.