Study on the Influences of Ultrasonic Conditions on the Dispersion of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Reinforced Epoxy

Abstract

Absrtract. In this paper, the method of ultrasonic vibration in preparation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)/epoxy resin composites was studied. Suspension specimens of MWCNTs/epoxy resin solution prepared by different ultrasonic conditions were compared to find out the influences of operating conditions on dispersion properties. In this study, transmission electron microscopes(TEM) were used to characterize the morphology of the blends and suspension stability was used to evaluate the stability of blends. The results showed that ultrasonic power, ultrasonic time and material quantity have great effect on the dispersion of MWCNTs in epoxy resin solution. Increasing ultrasonic power and time can improve dispersion of MWCNTs, and decreasing material quantity within an appropriate range was helpful to disperse MWCNTs into epoxy resin solution. The results of suspension stability were very similar with TEM results, which demonstrate that suspension stability of MWCNTs/epoxy resin blending could be used as an assistant method to characterize the dispersion of MWCNTs in epoxy resin.