Manipulating conductive network formation via 3D T-ZnO: A facile approach for a CNT-reinforced nanocomposite

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>To achieve an efficient conductive network while preserving the properties of carbon nanofillers is a challenging and essential issue for the fabrication of highly conductive polymeric nanocomposites. The present paper reports a facile approach to manipulate the network formation in the polymer matrix via introducing the tetrapod ZnO whisker (T-ZnO) in the carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced epoxy composite. The influence of T-ZnO on the CNT dispersion was evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, rheological measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrical and mechanical properties of the bulk composite. The results showed that the CNTs tend to disperse more uniformly with an increase in T-ZnO loading. An optimized ratio of 1:2 between CNTs and T-ZnO was found to significantly enhance the electrical conductivity by 8 orders of magnitude. A low percolation threshold of 0.25 wt% CNTs was achieved in this hybrid CNTs/T-ZnO composite, which is only 40% of the threshold value in the pure CNTs/epoxy. The flexural strength and modulus of the hybrid composite were also improved noticeably in comparison to the CNTs/epoxy. The mechanism for increasing the performance of the nanocomposite was analyzed. These results indicated that the T-ZnO can assist to efficiently improve the dispersion and the formation of the conductive network, which is beneficial to the enhancement of the mechanical and electrical performance of the nanocomposite.</jats:p>

Effect of Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Treatments on Fracture Toughness of Carbon Fibers-Reinforced Composites

“…CNTs are classified into two types according to their structural properties: single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). In particular, SWCNTs are expected to act as high structural and functional elements in next-generation composites because of their superior elastic deformation, fracture retention, and lightweight properties compared to conventional composites fillers [26][27][28]. However, SWCNTs have a Molecules 2021, 26, 3698 2 of 13 short diameter of about 15 to 30 nm and are difficult to distribute uniformly and efficiently because of the inherent properties of the van der Waals forces acting on the outer diameter of the fillers, which promotes aggregation [29,30].…”