Epoxys are an important class of thermoset polymer used in high performance applications, especially composite materials. Novel functionalization methods for carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene have been developed to allow the fascicle preparation of nanocomposites containing CNTs and graphene. Epoxy-functionalized CNT (EpCNT) were synthesized and the addition of 1 weight % one EpCNT (EpCNT2) was found to increase the lap shear strength in aluminum-aluminum bonds by 35% over the leading commercial epoxy and by 27% over the same amount of unfunctionalized CNT. Further studies of the nanocomposites were conducted, examining the effect of filler type and quantity on the shear modulus of the epoxy. 10 weight % of another EpCNT (EpCNT3) was found to increase the plateau shear storage modulus by 101 % (1.96 MPa to 3.94 MPa) and 10 weight % of pristine graphite was found to increase the storage modulus by 15 % (to 2.25 MPa), while the other fillers were found to detract from the shear modulus. Optical micrographs and SEM images reveal a correlation between excellent dispersion and enhancement of shear properties. 

Nanocomposites of epoxy with covalently modified graphene and carbon nanotubes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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