Low-Cost Carbon Fillers to Improve Mechanical Properties and Conductivity of Epoxy Composites.

Aamer Khan,Patrizia Savi,Mauro Giorcelli,Charles Jia,Massimo Rovere,Simone Quaranta,Carlo Rosso,Alberto Tagliaferro

doi:10.3390/polym9120642

Abstract

In recent years, low-cost carbons derived from recycled materials have been gaining attention for their potentials as filler in composites and in other applications. The electrical and mechanical properties of polymer composites can be tuned using different percentages and different kind of fillers: either low-cost (e.g., carbon black), ecofriendly (e.g., biochar), or sophisticated (e.g., carbon nanotubes). In this work, the mechanical and electrical behavior of composites with biochar and multiwall carbon nanotubes dispersed in epoxy resin are compared. Superior mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength, strain at break) were noticed at low heat-treated biochar (concentrations 2–4 wt %). Furthermore, dielectric properties in the microwave range comparable to low carbon nanotubes loadings can be achieved by employing larger but manageable amounts of biochar (20 wt %), rending the production of composites for structural and functional application cost-effective.

Highlights

Different kinds of composites based on polymer matrix matrices are nowadays available on the market
We investigate the mechanical and electrical behavior of two different kinds of epoxy resin composites prepared using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and maple biochar as fillers
It is anticipated that they have a similar surface morphology as they were manufactured from the same biomass precursor

Summary

Introduction

Different kinds of composites based on polymer matrix matrices are nowadays available on the market. Composites based on epoxy resins are used as high-tech materials because of their excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance, thermal stability, and low production cost [1,2,3,4,5] Some examples of such applications are glues, adhesives, surface coatings, and electrical insulators. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in large amounts are difficult to disperse in the matrix through conventional mechanical mixing methods Expensive treatments such as surface functionalization with acids, plasma, or the coupling of CNTs with polymers are essential to achieve an optimum level of dispersion [13,14].

Methods

Results

Conclusion