An investigation of tribology properties carbon nanotubes reinforced epoxy composites

표면 개질된 탄소나노튜브를 사용한 에폭시 복합재료의 마모특성에 관한 연구

Surface modified carbon nanotubes were applied into the epoxy composites to investigate its tribological property. Carbon nanotubes reinforced epoxy composites were fabricated by casting. Effects to the tribological property of loading concentrations and types of surface modification of carbon nanotubes were investigated under sliding condition using linear reciprocal sliding wear tester. The results show that the small amount of carbon nanotubes into the epoxy exhibited lower weight loss than the pure epoxy. It is concluded that the effect of an enormous aspect ratio of carbon nanotubes surface area which wider than conventional fillers that react as interface for stress transfer. As increased the contents of carbon nanotubes, the weight loss from the wear test was reduced. And the surface modified carbon nanotubes show better tribological property than as produced carbon nanotubes. It is due that a surface modification of carbon nanotubes increases the interfacial bonding between carbon nanotubes and epoxy matrix through chemical bonding. Changes in worn surface morphology are also observed by optical microscope and SEM for investigating wear behaviors. Carbon nanotubes in the epoxy matrix near the surface are exposed, because it becomes the lubricating working film on the worn surface. It reduces the friction and results in the lower surface roughness morphology in the epoxy matrix as increasing the contents of the carbon nanotubes.