State For Polymer Liquids Research Articles

Effect of carbazole coating on TiO2 nanoparticles as a photosensitizer and MWCNTs on the performance of epoxy composites

Over a short period of time, electronic assemblies have been dramatically developed with smaller size and lighter weight and 3D printing plays a crucial role in their future production. However, it is difficult to develop epoxy resins and other thermoset resins for this process because of the polymer's liquid state during processing. This work uses a UV curing technique for making flexible epoxy/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composites that are suitable for future 3D printing applications. The synthesized carbazole-coated TiO 2 nanoparticles, used as a photosensitizer, were characterized by their photoabsorbance, morphology, and surface property before use. The results indicated that the TiO 2 nanoparticles coated with 75 wt% carbazole were appropriate for UV-cured flexible epoxy/MWCNT composites because of its fast cure kinetics after irradiation by a UV light source. The epoxy/MWCNT composites displayed low tensile properties because of the agglomeration of MWCNTs inside the epoxy matrix. In addition, the epoxy/MWCNT composites showed slightly lower thermal expansion with high electrical properties with a large amount of MWCNTs in the epoxy composites. • The synthesis and characterization of carbazole coating on TiO 2 nanoparticle as a new photosensitizer for fast curing epoxy composite with MWCNTs • The morphological, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of flexible epoxy composites after complete cure by UV technique.

Nano-Composite manufacturing using the Electro-Orientation method of Micro/Nano-Particles in a liquid polymer with mechanical characteristics analysis

A new technology for manufacturing micro/nano composites by utilizing an electric field to fabricate particle orientations in a polymer liquid state is developed and its thermo-mechanical properties are tested. This method allows the manipulation of the local orientation of the submerged micro/nano size particles in a liquid matrix. The study demonstrates that the technology is able to locally manipulate the particle orientation and applicable diverse metal/non-metal inclusions in a polymer matrix. The theoretical background of this process includes the dielectrophoresis, diploe moment, and electrophoresis of particles in a polymer matrix. Electrophoresis is an important phenomenon in the orientation of non-spherical particles in a continuous phase. Attempts were made to distribute several types of metal and non-metal particles in a liquid epoxy, in order to test the effects of electrophoresis under an electric field; the rotation and alignment of the particles were clearly observed and pictures were taken. The mathematical models of the kinetic movements caused by the electrophoretic force are also presented here. The results obtained from the experiment indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method and validate the suggested mathematical models, including all of the expanded manipulation.