The Optimization of Ball Milling Method in Preparation of Phenolic/Functionalized Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube Composite and Comparison with Wet Method

Abstract

This paper focuses on the optimization of ball milling as a dry mixing method and comparison with the wet method for manufacturing phenolic/multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites. In the ball milling, the effect of milling-time on the properties of composites containing functionalized and pristine MWCNT in two MWCNT concentrations has been investigated. At first in the wet method, polymer was dissolved in acetone and then mixed with MWCNT by sonication method. Also, the effect of functionalization by use of acid nitric refluxing was considered. The material properties were characterized by the DSC, FTIR, Raman, electrical conductivity, SEM, TEM and bending strength analyses. The results of electrical conductivity and bending tests showed that the best time for ball milling is about 2 hrs. In addition, functionalization had a positive effect on bending strength and a negative effect on electrical conductivity. The results of DSC indicated that the composite manufactured by ball milling method resulted in more thermal stability than that manufactured by the wet method. It was also shown that the functionalization increases the thermal stability; however, the increasing MWCNT concentration leads to agglomeration, thereby decreasing the thermal stability.

The effect of nanocarbon inclusion on mechanical, tribological, and thermal properties of phenolic resin‐based composites: An overview

“…In addition, wet mixing also showed less thermal stability than dry milling method. 168 This result strengthened the previous reported work by Mathur and coworkers. However, these presented results were contradicted by another study exhibited by Chaiwan and Pumchusak that for both wet and dry dispersion method improved mechanical properties, where a comparative study conducted, and in wet method the addition of 1 wt% MWCNT provided flexural and tensile properties improvement of 29% and 19%, whereas in the dry method with same MWCNT wt% inclusion, the flexural and tensile properties enhancement recorded with 14% and 24% hike respectively, indicating the wet dispersion method has better enhancement than the dry method.…”

The effect of novel advanced method on the properties of novolac hybrid nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotube and glass fiber

“…Taherian et al also revealed that the BM time of 2 h positively affects the distribution of CNTs in the polymer composite. 79 In this context, the homogeneous distribution of CNTs in nanocomposites increased the uniformity of stress distribution and exhibited better mechanical performance than other nanocomposites. Also, due to the addition of CNTs, interlocking effect was formed between the GF and the matrix, the shear delamination of the hybrid nanocomposite was reduced and enhanced mechanical properties were obtained.…”

Effect of Cyrtostachys renda Fiber Loading on the Mechanical, Morphology, and Flammability Properties of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes/Phenolic Bio-Composites

“…Botelho et al supported that strong hydrogen interaction between the hydroxyl groups of the MWCNTs and the matrix allows the MWCNT dispersed in the phenolic resin [44] to be bonded covalently [15]. According to Taherian et al, the existence of -COOH peaks from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study is an indication of the bonding and crosslinking formation between the MWCNT and the phenolic resin [18] as shown in Figure 7. When the CR fiber was added as much as 40 wt.%, the tensile strength and modulus of the MWCNT-phenolic composites improved as much as 6% and 18%, respectively.…”

“…A previous study reported that a drymixed dispersion of 2 volume % of MWCNT in a Novolac-type phenolic resin after 25 h of ball milling exhibited a substantial improvement in flexural strength compared to a wet-mixed dispersion [16]. However, wet ultrasonication is restricted to soluble and low viscous polymers [17] and it induces modifications in structural changes to the polymer, which may weaken the composite's mechanical and physical properties [18]. Eslami et al reported that the flexural strength and thermal stability of phenolic composites increase with the increase in MWCNT up to 0.5 wt.% and decrease at 2 wt.% [19].…”