Mechanical properties of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes/epoxy composites cured by electron beam irradiation

Abstract

Electron beam (EB) curing is a high rate manufacturing technique for preparing of the epoxy composites. In this study, EB radiation was used to prepare carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/epoxy composites and the effects of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the mechanical properties of EB cured MWNTs/epoxy composites were studied given the important effects on the composites performance of interfacial adhesion between the CNTs and epoxy. The results showed that a substantial increase of the Vicker’s hardness appeared at MWNTs content of 0.1 wt%, but further filler content increase led to insignificant changes. Also the tensile modulus of the 0.25 wt% GPTMS functionalized MWNTs (GPTMS-MWNTs)/epoxy composites was enhanced by 34.9%. Dynamic mechanical analysis studies revealed that filling the 0.25 wt% GPTMS-MWNTs into epoxy can produce an 18.4℃ (from 121.1℃ to 139.5℃) increase in Tg as well. It was concluded that GPTMS functionalization has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of MWNTs/epoxy composites.