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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Functionalization and Dispersion of Carbon Nanomaterials Using an Environmentally Friendly Ultrasonicated Ozonolysis Process
Published on: May 30, 2017
Effect of Dispersing Carbon Nanotube in Aqueous Solution by Poly-Carboxylic-Based Surfactants on Mechanical and
Won-Woo Kim1, Jae-Heum Moon1, Seung-Tae Lee2
1KICT (Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology), Goyang-si 10223, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
The development of high-performance concrete using carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which is used in various industries owing to its excellent mechanical properties, has attracted much attention, leading to ongoing research in this area. However, when mixing CNTs into cement paste, there has been limited focus on the dispersibility, and, in most cases, aqueous dispersions of CNTs used in other industrial sectors are used. Because CNTs form the structures of bundles or aggregates owing to their high aspect ratio and van der Waals force between particles, the desired dispersibility cannot be obtained when mixing CNTs in powder form with other materials. Therefore, in this study, we examined the applicability of CNT aqueous dispersions using PC-based plasticizer used in concrete. Aqueous dispersions of CNT using PC-based surfactants are prepared and their properties are compared with those of a PVP-based aqueous dispersion. To analyze the mechanical properties, the compressive strength and flexural strength are measured on the 28th day. Then, the dispersibility and microstructure are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy image analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis. The analysis results show the enhancement of mechanical properties due to the mixing of the CNT dispersion, and the results confirm the applicability of the proposed CNT aqueous dispersions using PC-based surfactants.
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