Industrial-graded epoxy nanocomposites with mechanically dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes:static and dampening properties

摘要

The majority of current published dispersion protocols of carbon nanotubes rely on techniques that are not scalable to industrial level. This work shows how to obtain polymer nanocomposites with good mechanical characteristics using multi-walled carbon nanotubes epoxy resins obtained by mechanical mixing only. The mechanical dispersion method illustrated in this work is easily scalable to industrial level. The high shearing force due to the complex field of motion allow a good and reproducible carbon nanotubes dispersion. We have tested an industrial epoxy matrix with good baseline mechanical characteristics at different carbon nanotubes weight loads. ASTM-derived tensile and compressive tests show an increment in both Young's modulus and compressive strength compared with the pristine resin from a starting low wt%. Comparative vibration tests show improvement in the damping capacity. The new carbon nanotubes enhanced epoxy resin has superior mechanical proprieties to the market average competitor, and places itself amongst the top products in the bi-components epoxy resins market. The new dispersion method shows a significant potential for the industrial use of CNTs in epoxies matrices.