Abstract
Lately, nanomaterials have been largely studied as reinforcements for epoxy resin. Although their usage is highly promising, the literature has reported some drawbacks regarding the improvement of mechanical properties in nanocomposites. These difficulties are usually due to dispersion of nanomaterials and its adhesion to the polymeric matrix. One approach to this problem is the functionalization of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene. In this work, we have studied the synthesis and functionalization process of CNTs and graphene oxide (GO) to be used as reinforcements for epoxy resin nanocomposites. CNTs were synthesized at 850 °C in a quartz furnace, from hexane and ferrocene vapor, and functionalized by acids and ethylenediamine treatments. GO was obtained by graphite exfoliation through a modified Hummer’s method. The nanomaterials were characterized by Raman spectrum, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM images. Nanocomposites were prepared using these nanomaterials and evaluated by DMA. While both nanomaterials showed an improvement in mechanical properties, suggesting a chemical bond between nanomaterial and the epoxy matrix, it was clear that GO reinforced samples presented a higher storage modulus.
Highlights
Epoxy resins are high performance thermoset polymers widely used in various industrial applications and largely studied as nanocomposites (Chen et al 2007; Saeb et al 2015)
The development of nanocomposites has become of great interest in materials science, and it has attracted the attention of aeronautics industries because of its potential to reduce weight of metallic structures that can be replaced by nanocomposites (Francisco et al 2015)
FT-IR was used to characterize the presence of chemical groups on Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)- Am and graphene oxide (GO) surfaces
Summary
Epoxy resins are high performance thermoset polymers widely used in various industrial applications and largely studied as nanocomposites (Chen et al 2007; Saeb et al 2015). The development of nanocomposites has become of great interest in materials science, and it has attracted the attention of aeronautics industries because of its potential to reduce weight of metallic structures that can be replaced by nanocomposites (Francisco et al 2015). Nanomaterials are generally regarded as high potential fillers to act as reinforcements and improve mechanical properties of polymers (Gojny et al 2005; Wang and Liew 2015). Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are carbon allotropes discovered by Iijima in 1991 that have attracted great interest from both scientific and industrial communities due to its outstanding properties (Iijima 1991; Kumar et al 2014). CNTs have frequently been added to polymers to increase the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of nanocomposites.
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