High performance, freestanding and superthin carbon nanotube/epoxy nanocomposite films

Nanoscale. 2011 Sep 1;3(9):3731-6. doi: 10.1039/c1nr10438a. Epub 2011 Aug 15.

Abstract

We develop a facile, effective and filter free infiltration method to fabricate high performance, freestanding and superthin epoxy nanocomposite films with directly synthesized Sing-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) film as reinforcement skeleton. It is found that the thicknesses of the nanocomposite films can be easily controlled in the range of 0.5-3 μm by dripping target amount of acetone diluted epoxy through the skeleton film. The consequent measurements reveal that the mechanical and electrical properties of SWNTs/epoxy nanocomposite films could be tailored in a quite wide range. For examples, the Young's modulus of nanocomposite films can be tuned from 10 to 30 GPa, and the electrical conductivity can be ranged from 1000 S·cm(-1) to be insulated. Moreover, high load transfer efficiency in the nanocomposite films is demonstrated by the measured ultrahigh Raman bands shift rate (-30 ± 5 cm(-1)/% strain) under strain. The high effective modulus is derived as 774 ± 70 GPa for SWNTs inside this nanocomposite film.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electric Conductivity
  • Epoxy Compounds / chemistry*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Substances

  • Epoxy Compounds
  • Nanotubes, Carbon