Reinforcement of Bisphenol-A epoxy resin nanocomposites with noncovalent functionalized and physical adsorption modified CNTs

Abstract

The depolymerization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and dispersion of CNTs in polymer matrix are key to study the application properties of CNTs. We described using the aniline trimer (AT) as a noncovalent dispersant agent and the polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether (Triton X-100) as a nonionic surfactant to treat CNTs. UV–vis spectra showed the successful combination of two dispersants and CNTs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the dispersion effect was best when the mass ratio of AT to Triton X-100 was 1:1. And we described the preparation of treated-CNTs loaded bisphenol-A epoxy (E44) nanocomposites. We analyzed the fracture surface of nanocomposites by SEM analysis and analyzed the dispersion of CNTs in epoxy matrix by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The mechanical properties of neat epoxy resin, raw CNTs loaded epoxy nanocomposites and treated-CNTs loaded epoxy nanocomposites were assessed. The tribological properties and thermodynamic properties of neat epoxy resin and treated-CNTs loaded epoxy nanocomposites were evaluated. The mechanical properties and the tribological properties of the treated-CNTs loaded epoxy nanocomposites were all improved. DSC showed loading treated-CNTs increased the glass temperature. TGA and DTG showed that the thermal stability of nanocomposites was not influenced by loading treated-CNTs.