Abstract
This paper presents the synthesis of epoxy based Multiwalled Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reinforced composites by method of sonication. The variation in the nature of reinforcement (Aligned & Randomly oriented MWNTS) has resulted in the improvement of mechanical properties like flexural modulus, tensile strength and hardness. A small change in chemical treatment of the nanotubes has a great effect in the mechanical and morphological properties of nanocomposites due to effective load transfer mechanism and state of dispersion. The change in properties has been verified by optical microscopy and Scanning electron microscopy. Apart from that the prepared composites has been treated under different temperatures (like hot water, room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature) and the change in mechanical as well as morphological nature has been verified by SEM of Fractographic surface this proved the elasticity and ductility of the composites.
Highlights
The discoveries of carbon nanotubes (CNT) have initiated researches in many different areas; one of the most intriguing applications of CNT is the polymer/CNT nanocomposites [1,2,3,4,5]
Increase in flexural modulus is more pronounced in samples treated in hot water for both brittle (H0-49 & H1-148.8) and ductile (DH0-64 & DH1-210) samples in comparison to samples treated in cryofreezer ( C0-33,C1-140.2, DC036, DC1-159.3) as shown in the Figure(3&4)
Flexural modulus is maximum in case of ductile composite samples treated in hot water (DH1) at 800 C
Summary
The discoveries of carbon nanotubes (CNT) have initiated researches in many different areas; one of the most intriguing applications of CNT is the polymer/CNT nanocomposites [1,2,3,4,5]. The high mechanical, electrical and thermal property of CNTs make them ideal candidate as fillers in lightweight polymer composite [6]. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) used for the preparation of nanocomposites was obtained from MER Corporation, USA. They are produced by arc plasma method (purity 95%, length 10-50 μm and diameters 20-70 nm). Aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) used for the preparation of nanocomposites was obtained from ARCI, Hyderabad, India They are produced by chemical vapor deposition method diameters 10-20 nm. The treated tubes were added to the epoxy resin and sonicated for 2 hrs at room temperature. The prepared samples were treated at different environmental conditions for 24 hrs before the mechanical tests were performed. Few samples were treated by hot water at 800 C and some are treated in the cryofreezer at liquid nitrogen temperature (1800 C)
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