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Updated: May 22, 2026
Manufacturing of Three-dimensionally Microstructured Nanocomposites through Microfluidic Infiltration
Published on: March 12, 2014
Incorporation of liquid-like multiwalled carbon nanotubes into an epoxy matrix by solvent-free processing
Ying-Kui Yang1, Lin-Juan Yu, Ren-Gui Peng
1Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China. Center for Advanced Materials Technology (CAMT), School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, J07, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Abstract:
Covalent attachment of 2,2'-(ethylenedioxy)-diethylamine to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) produced amino-functionalized MWCNTs which behaved like liquids at ambient temperature. These liquid-like MWCNTs (l-MWCNTs) could be homogeneously dispersed and chemically embedded in an epoxy matrix by solvent-free processing. In contrast, solid MWCNTs (s-MWCNTs) functionalized by 1,8-diaminooctane were poorly dispersed in epoxy although they possess chemical structures and functionalization comparable to l-MWCNTs. An epoxy composite filled with pristine MWCNTs (p-MWCNTs) was also fabricated in the absence of a solvent at the same loading for comparison. The molecular level coupling of l-MWCNTs and epoxy provided significant improvements in overall mechanical properties relative to those composites containing p-MWCNTs and s-MWCNTs. The Young's modulus, storage modulus, tensile strength, failure strain and toughness of neat epoxy were increased by 28.4, 23.8, 22.9, 24.1 and 66.1%, respectively, by adding 0.5 wt% of l-MWCNTs. Thus, functionalized carbon nanotubes in liquid form contributed to better dispersion and superior interfacial bonding with the epoxy matrix, thereby facilitating greater mechanical reinforcement efficiency.
