Stochastic Analysis of the Carbon Nanotube Network Interphase in Dry and Pre-Infused Buckypaper

Abstract

Abstract Assembling CNTs into a thin film Buckypaper (BP) effectively creates high CNT content nanocomposites. BP consists of entangled CNT networks with a porous 3D structure in which CNTs are randomly distributed. The interaction between the dispersed CNT and the polymer or between the CNT network and the surrounding polymer occurs via interphase. The interphase is the region between two constituents and has different local morphology and properties than the constituents. The morphology and properties of the interphase between the CNT network and polymer have not been given enough attention in the literature. Atomic Force Microscopy-based Peak Force Quantitative Nanomechanics Mapping (PFQNM) technique has been used to characterize the CNT network interphase at the nanoscale with high lateral resolution. Probe actual stiffness, tip radius, tapping force, deformation level, and deflection sensitivity for heterogeneous BP are discussed. The nano-scale material properties are extracted from the DMT contact mechanic’s model. The authors show that reduced modulus and deformation can examine the interphase zone thickness and properties. Weibull model is used to investigate the distribution of an interphase thickness and the size of the CNT network.