Effects Of MWCNTS Surface Modification On The Thermal And Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy Filled MWCNTS Nanocomposites

Abd Aziz, Norfarhana (2016) Effects Of MWCNTS Surface Modification On The Thermal And Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy Filled MWCNTS Nanocomposites. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

Text Effects Of MWCNTS Surface Modification On The Thermal And Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy Filled MWCNTS Nanocomposites 24 Pages.pdf - Submitted Version Download (353kB)

Abstract

The covalent surface modification of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) towards the effect on thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy filled MWCNTs nanocomposites were reported in this research. DGEBA epoxy and MWCNTs filler were respectively used as a matrix and reinforcement in developing enhancement into the epoxy polymer. The performances of epoxy filled untreated and treated MWCNTs were compared and evaluated in this works. The MWCNTs which have an inert surface characteristic are tend to agglomerate and need to be modified in lowering their viscosity of epoxy due to good dispersion of MWCNTs fillers within the matrices. Amino Propyl Triethoxy Silane (APTS) chemical was used as a medium for covalent functionalization utilizing a simplified treatment approaches. Surface treatment evaluation was done by performing a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy to further confirm the success of the covalent functionalization performed to the MWCNTs surfaces. The nanocomposites samples with 0.00 wt.%, 0.25 wt.%, 0.50 wt.%, 0.75 wt%, 1.00 wt.% and 3.00 wt.% of MWCNTs loadings were tested by using various mechanical and thermal testing which are tensile test, flexural test, impact test, TGA and DSC analysis. In term of mechanical testing, tensile and flexural testing result shows the improvement for epoxy/treated MWCNTs with 38.69% and 58.48% increament compared to the composite filled untreated/MWCNTs. Physical testing included are the density test and water absorption test. The experimental results shows that the thermal and mechanical properties were significantly improved due to the covalent treatment onto the MWCNTs surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations on the fractured surfaces shows that the properties improvement in the nanocomposites and filler dispersion as well as the matrix-filler interaction is directly interrelated with the success of covalent functionalization of MWCNTs.

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