Fabrication and characterization of vapor grown carbon nanofiber/epoxy magnetic nanocomposites

Abstract

Co3O4 nanoparticle‐decorated vapor‐grown carbon nanofiber (VGCNF) hybrid materials were successfully synthesized and served as nanofillers for preparing magnetic epoxy (EP) nanocomposites. The Co3O4‐decorated VGCNF (Co3O4‐VGCNF) and Co3O4‐VGCNF/EP nanocomposites were systematically and explicitly investigated by combined analytical techniques. The composition and phase structure of Co3O4‐VGCNF hybrid materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analyses. The morphology of Co3O4 was investigated using field‐emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE‐SEM). Results revealed the presence of Co3O4 nanoparticles firmly immobilized on VGCNF sidewalls. The tensile mechanical, thermomechanical, and magnetic properties of Co3O4‐VGCNF/EP nanocomposites were also investigated in detail. Results indicated that the tensile strength of Co3O4‐VGCNF/EP nanocomposites (filler = 0.5 wt%) improved by 44.6% compared with that of raw VGCNF/EP nanocomposites (filler = 0.5 wt%). Magnetization measurements revealed that Co3O4‐VGCNF/EP nanocomposites exhibited ferromagnetic behavior, and the saturation magnetization and coercivity of the nanocomposites with 2 wt% of Co3O4‐VGCNF were 0.055 emu g−1 and 0.75 kOe, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1728–1734, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers