This study proposed a method to improve the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of epoxy composites by incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and multi-graphene platelets (MGPs) hybrid materials. The MWCNT can bridge adjacent MGPs and inhibit their aggregation effectively, leading to an increased contact surface area between MGP/MWCNT hybrid materials and epoxy matrix. From observing the fractured surface of composite by scanning electron microscope, MWCNT/MGP hybrid materials exhibited better compatibility than individual MWCNT and MGP did.The tensile strength of GD400-MWCNT/MGP/epoxy composites was 35.4% higher than that of epoxy, compared to only a 0.9% increase in tensile strength for MGP/epoxy composites. Thermal conductivity enhanced by 146.9% through incorporating MWCNT/MGP hybrid materials and 23.9% for MGP fillers, compared to non-derivatised epoxy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.