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Manufacturing polymer/carbon nanotube composite using a novel direct process.
C-D Tran1, S Lucas, D G Phillips
1Computational Engineering and Science Research Centre (CESRC), Faculty of Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia. canh-dung.tran@usq.edu.au
Nanotechnology
|February 25, 2011
Summary
A new direct process creates polymer carbon nanotube (CNT) composite yarns with highly aligned CNTs using a modified dry spinning method. This method simplifies manufacturing and yields reinforced composites for diverse engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Manufacturing polymer-carbon nanotube (CNT) composites often requires complex steps for CNT alignment and dispersion.
- Achieving high CNT alignment within a polymer matrix is crucial for enhancing composite properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a direct and simplified process for manufacturing polymer CNT-based composite yarns.
- To achieve high alignment of CNTs within the polymer matrix during yarn production.
- To create polymer CNT composites with tunable mechanical properties for various engineering applications.
Main Methods:
- A modified dry spinning method was employed for direct manufacturing of polymer CNT composite yarns.
- The process involved combining an aligned CNT structure with a polymer resin, followed by curing and polymerization under stress.
- Characterization included scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with focused-ion-beam (FIB), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR).
Main Results:
- The modified dry spinning process successfully produced polymer CNT composite yarns with a highly aligned CNT bundle structure.
- The integrated CNT structure acted as reinforcement within the polymer matrix, obviating the need for separate alignment treatments.
- The resulting composites exhibited tunable mechanical properties suitable for various engineering specifications.
Conclusions:
- A direct and efficient method for producing aligned polymer CNT composite yarns has been established.
- This process simplifies the manufacturing of high-performance polymer CNT composites.
- The developed technique offers a versatile platform for creating tailored composite materials by utilizing different polymer resins.
