Effect of Coating Time and Temperature on Electroless Deposition of Cobalt-Phosphorous for the Growth of Carbon Nanotubes on the Surface of E-Glass Fibers/Fabric

Abstract

Cobalt-phosphorous (Co-P) was coated in alkaline solution on the E-glass fiber/fabric over a range of coating time (0–30 minutes, in intervals of 5 minutes) and temperature (50–90°C, in intervals of 10°C). The effects of coating time and temperature on the structural, compositional, morphological, thermal and magnetic properties of Co-P coated glass fiber/fabric were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), surface area and vibrating sample magnetometer device (VSM). The X-ray diffraction studies exhibit that the intensity of cobalt (Co) peak increases with increasing the coating time and temperature. The EDAX results also reveal that the Co content is high and phosphorous (P) content is low at the higher coating time. However, the Co and P content both are high at the higher coating temperature. The surface morphology of the Co-P coated fiber/fabric was evaluated by SEM. From TGA it is evident that the Co coating increases the thermal stability of glass fiber. The magnetic properties of Co coated glass fiber increases with an increase of coating time. The bath temperature of 75°C, 15–20 minutes deposition time, pH of 8.5 and stabilizer concentration of 25 g/l are the optimum conditions to get a good and uniform coating of Co on the glass fiber. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were successfully coated on the Co-coated glass fiber at a temperature of 700°C by chemical vapour deposition. The CNT coated glass fiber/fabric was characterized through SEM, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, surface area, electrical conductivity, and so forth. Finally the performance of CNT coated glass fiber was evaluated through the measurement of modulus in the composite structure.