Synthesis of carbon nanotube/epoxy composite films with a high nanotube loading by a mixed-curing-agent assisted layer-by-layer method and their electrical conductivity

Abstract

A mixed-curing-agent assisted layer-by-layer method is reported to synthesize carbon nanotube (CNT)/epoxy composite films with a high CNT loading from ∼15 to ∼36 wt.%. The mixed-curing-agent consists of two types of agents, one of which is responsible for the partial initial curing at room temperature to avoid agglomeration of the CNTs, and the other for complete curing of epoxy resin at high temperature to synthesize epoxy composite films with good CNT dispersion. The electrical conductivity of the composites shows a value up to ∼12 S/m, which is much higher than that for CNT/epoxy composites with a low CNT loading prepared using conventional methods.