Improving flexural and dielectric properties of MWCNT/epoxy nanocomposites by introducing advanced hybrid filler system

摘要

In this study, the authors attempted to enhance the flexural and dielectric properties of epoxy resin using advanced carbon nanotube-alumina (CNT-Al2O3) hybrid filler system that was chemically synthesised via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The hybrid CNT-Al2O3 filled epoxy composite was compared to the physically mixed CNT-Al2O3 filled epoxy composites. The assessment showed that the CNT-Al2O3 hybrid filler produced more homogeneous dispersion in the epoxy matrix with higher flexural and dielectric properties as compared to the physically mixed CNT-Al2O3 filler. The flexural strength, flexural modulus and dielectric constant of CNT-Al2O3 hybrid epoxy composites improved significantly up to 30%, 35% and 20%, respectively, compared to the neat epoxy. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.