Ultimate tensile behavior of short single‐wall carbon nanotube/epoxy composites and the reinforced mechanism

Abstract

Short single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)/epoxy composites were fabricated by a procedure of cutting and functionalizing SWCNTs, dispersion and curing, with a very low weight ratio of SWCNTs from 0.03% to 0.5%. It was found that the tensile fracture strength of composites increases with increasing SWCNT content initially, then reaches a maximum at 0.05 wt% and finally decreases with further increasing the SWCNT content. The fracture strength of the composite with 0.05 wt% SWCNTs (78.46 MPa) is ~160% of that of pure epoxy sample (48.64 MPa). A model analysis based on the competition of local matrix fracture and the debonding of short SWCNT was proposed. It revealed that there is a transition from local matrix fracture to the debonding of SWCNT when the SWCNT content increases, this transition leads to the decrease in the tensile strength. Further analyses indicated that the content of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at the transition depends on their radius and length. Considering the effect of surface cracks on the fracture strength of pure epoxy sample, the theoretical analyses are qualitatively in agreement with the experimental results. The present study partly explains why the fracture strength of CNT reinforced composites has various results for a similar CNT loading in previous works.

Curing Behavior and Properties of Active Ester Cured Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Resins

“…Thermosetting resins typically exhibit outstanding mechanical properties and commendable chemical resistance and dimensional and thermal stabilities, among other desirable characteristics. − Epoxy resins hold a prominent position in thermosets as they are broadly employed in coatings, adhesives, and composites. , The low cost, uncomplicated processing, and suitability for mass automated production have established epoxy resins as a dominant player in the integrated circuits packaging industry . Traditional glycidyl ether-based epoxy resins, like DGEBA, are typically synthesized by reacting with epichlorohydrin, resulting in residual chlorine content. , Notably, hydrolyzable chlorine residues can significantly influence the performance of the cured resin .…”

Investigation of Young's modulus of defective graphene‐reinforced epoxy at different weight ratios by molecular dynamics

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9] Experimental studies for nano-composite materials, where graphene is utilized as a nanomaterial for filler, continue as well. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The manufacturability and production processes of nano-composite materials containing graphene and epoxy are also separate research areas. [19][20][21][22] The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method is used to predict the properties of these new-generation nanocomposite materials because manufacturing them is challenging, expensive, and time-consuming.…”

“…Graphene has drawn significant scholarly attention from numerous research projects with its distinctive two‐dimensional honeycomb lattice structure and use as a nanofiller material 4–9 . Experimental studies for nano‐composite materials, where graphene is utilized as a nanomaterial for filler, continue as well 10–18 . The manufacturability and production processes of nano‐composite materials containing graphene and epoxy are also separate research areas 19–22 .…”

Rheological percolation, gel‐like behavior and electrical conductivity of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes filled ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer/acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber nanocomposites

“…Single‐walled (SWCNTs) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are now extensively incorporated into the polymer matrices in order to obtain the materials with higher mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties 1–6 . These properties are mainly associated with the formation of the nanofillers network within the polymer.…”

“…Single-walled (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are now extensively incorporated into the polymer matrices in order to obtain the materials with higher mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. [1][2][3][4][5][6] These properties are mainly associated with the formation of the nanofillers network within the polymer. However, when a nanocomposite is in the molten state, the structure of the nanofillers network can be altered because of the nanofillers diffusion and aggregation due to the thermodynamic instability.…”