Effect of amine functionalization of CNF on electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of epoxy/CNF composites

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Germany), 2010-11, Vol.65 (8), p.849-861
• Main Authors: Karippal, Jeena Jose, Narasimha Murthy, H. N., Rai, K. S., Krishna, M., Sreejith, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon; Carbon fibers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical bonds; Chemical reactions; Chemical vapor deposition; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Composite materials; Composites; Dispersion; Electrical resistivity; Epoxy resins; Exact sciences and technology; Fillers; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Heat conductivity; Interfacial bonding; Mechanical properties; Microhardness; Nanocomposites; Nanofibers; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Polyamines; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Soft and Granular Matter; Technology of polymers; Thermal conductivity; Twin screw extruders; Viscosity
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-010-0292-z

This paper presents experimental results of the effect of amine functionalization of carbon nanofibers (CNF) on the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of CNF/epoxy composites. The functionalized and non-functionalized CNFs (up to 3 wt%) were dispersed into epoxy using twin screw extruder. The specimens were characterized for electrical resistivities, thermal conductivity ( K ), UTS, and Vicker’s microhardness. The properties of the nanocomposites were compared with that of neat epoxy. The volume conductivity of the specimens increased by E12 S/cm and E09 S/cm in f-CNF/epoxy and CNF/epoxy, respectively, at 3 wt% filler loading. The increase in K for former was 106% at 150 °C, while for the latter it was only 64%. Similarly, UTS increased by 61% vs. 45% and hardness 65% vs. 43%. T g increased with increase in filler content. SEM examinations showed that functionalization resulted in better dispersion of the nanofibers and hence greater improvement in the studied properties of the nanocomposites.