Thermal and mechanical properties of cyanate ester resin modified with acid-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) that were treated with mixed acids were used to reinforce the cyanate ester resin. Meanwhile, the relationship among structure, morphology, and property of the modified resin was investigated. The treated MWCNTs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS results showed that the oxygen content in the treated MWCNTs was higher than that of untreated MWCNTs and the FTIR results indicated the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups on the treated MWCNTs. The microstructure of the resin was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the dispersion properties of the treated MWCNTs in the resin matrix were improved and compared with the untreated analogue. Addition of MWCNTs to the resin had little effect on the thermodynamic properties of the resin system. Upon addition of 0.8 wt% of MWCNTs to the resin, the glass transition temperature of the cured resin changed from 298°C to 285°C, maintaining a relatively high value. For the resins containing 0.6 wt% of treated MWCNTs, the plane strain critical stress intensity factor and plane strain critical strain energy release rate in the system were determined to be 1.39 Pa·m0.5 and 364 J m−2, respectively, and the fracture toughness is increased by 45.7 and 76.0%, respectively. Furthermore, the modified resin system exhibits excellent toughness and thermal properties. Therefore, the modified resin may be suitable for future applications involving high performance composites and adhesives.

Carbon-fibre-reinforced modified cyanate ester winding composites and their thermomechanical properties

“…All of the initial decomposition temperatures of the BT resin were above 420°C, which were higher than the data in Li’s report. 8 In addition, the char yield at 600°C of cured modified CE is above 59%, and the char yield at 800°C is above 52%, which are quite high compared with the char yield at 600°C in the resin blends in Toldy et al’s research. 11…”

“…However, a CE, as the resin matrix of a composite material, usually needs to be modified. 8,9 The toughness of a CE resin is so poor that the fracture toughness and inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) of the composite materials usually cannot meet the requirements of the application. Common CE modification methods include thermosetting resin modification, thermoplastic resin modification and elastic modification.…”

High-performance polymer composites with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties from cyanate ester/benzoxazine resin and short Kevlar/glass hybrid fibers

“…fillers/fibers) after surface modifications. 29 Therefore, the aim of carrying out the FTIR analysis was to demonstrate the existence of the experimental additives on the hybrid fiber external surfaces. By carefully scrutinizing the IR absorption spectra, given in the inset of Figure 4, of the SKFs as well as SGFs before and after being surface modified, one can easily identify the presence of some additional bands in the studied wavelength range from 4000 cm À1 to 500 cm À1 .…”

Epoxy resin/cyanate ester composites containing DOPO and wollastonite with simultaneously improved flame retardancy and thermal resistance

“…Among the thermosetting resins, cyanate ester (CE) resin is highly suitable for the improvement of the thermal resistance of EP resin because the CE resin after cure has prominent heat resistance, low moisture absorption, and excellent dielectric properties. 7 –9 There are many publications conducted on the compound of CE and EP aiming to integrate the superiorities over these two thermosetting resins. For example, Kim prepared EP/CE blends with a curing agent, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, and found that the initial degradation temperature (the temperature at 5% weight loss) of the cured blend was shifted to higher temperatures with an increase in the CE resin content.…”