The present status and key problems of carbon nanotube based polymer composites

Abstract

Abstract. The state-of-art and key problems of carbon nanotube (CNT) based polymer composites (CNT/polymer composites) including CNT/polymer structural composites and CNT/polymer functional composites are reviewed. Based on the results reported up to now, CNTs can be an effective reinforcement for polymer matrices, and the tensile strength and elastic modulus of CNT/polymer composites can reach as high as 3600 MPa and 80 GPa, respectively. CNT/polymer composites are also promising functional composite materials with improved electrical and thermal conductivity, etc. Due to their multi-functional properties, CNT/polymer composites are expected to be used as low weight structural materials, optical devices, thermal interface materials, electric components, electromagnetic absorption materials, etc. However, the full potential of CNT/polymer composites still remains to be realized. A few key problems, such as how to prepare structurecontrollable CNTs with high purity and consistently dependable high performance, how to break up entangled or bundled CNTs and then uniformly disperse and align them within a polymer matrix, how to improve the load transfer from matrix to CNT reinforcement, etc, still exist and need to be solved in order to realize the wide applications of these advanced composites.

Designing of epoxy composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes grown carbon fiber fabric for improved electromagnetic interference shielding

“…dispersion, alignment and interface. 4,5 Furthermore, the use of CNT alone as reinforcement often failed to achieve the superior mechanical properties in the composites. Therefore, different routes have been adopted, notably a combination of CNT and carbon fibre (CF) [6][7][8] that involves dispersion of CNT into epoxy matrix followed by impregnation in carbon fabric.…”

Adhesive Properties Study of f-SWCNTs:P3OT Nanocomposite Thin Film

“…The noticeable uniformity of the pure P3OT polymer observed in its acquired topography image is confirmed also by its revealed roughness (Ra) of 0.99 nm, while the high surface roughness parameter value (31.89 nm) determined for the 12% f-SWCNTs:P3OT sample is clearly influenced by the presence of the carbon nanotubes into the polymer matrix, which leads to the formation of broad valleys and hills seen in the topography image of the nanocomposite. Due to the high attraction between them caused by the Van der Walls forces [ 10 ], the carbon nanotubes are matched into bundles, as they appear in the 12% f-SWCNTs:P3OT sample's topography image.…”

Influência da relação estequiométrica resina/endurecedor em propriedades mecânicas de compósitos ternários hierárquicos resina - epóxi/tecido de fibra de carbono/nanotubos de carbono

“…Para o sistema estequiométrico (Phr 26,6), o regime elástico se estendeu até a fratura sequenciada e os valores de tensão máxima e módulo de elasticidade aumentaram em até 8 vezes (Tabela 3). Como esperado, os índices mecânicos alcançados nessa avaliação para o sistema binário resina epóxi/fibra de carbono foram menores que aqueles apresentados para compósitos clássicos de resina epóxi e tecidos 2D de fibras de carbono fabricados pela indústria aeroespacial, uma vez que aqui trabalhamos com um percentual em volume de tecido de fibra bem menor (23-33%) [10] . Para os compósitos ternários com Phr 10,0, a adição de MWNT resultou em valores ainda menores de tensão máxima, em relação ao compósito binário, e não alterou de forma significativa os valores de módulo de elasticidade.…”

“…Com a descoberta em 1991 dos NT [2] , intensificou a busca da integralização dessas estruturas a materiais com grande solicitações mecânicas e condutoras. Mas há muito, os trabalhos revelaram as dificuldades desse processo [10] . Várias rotas de processamento de natureza química e física foram tentadas, mas com resultados limitados na distribuição e interação das nanoestruturas com os meios de interesse em aplica-los.…”