• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.411-422
• /
• 2010

Self-sensing on micro-failure, dispersion degree and relating properties, of carbon nanotube(CNT)/epoxy composites, were investigated using wettability, electro-micromechanical technique with acoustic emission(AE). Specimens were prepared from neat epoxy as well as composites with untreated and acid-treated CNT. Degree of dispersion was evaluated comparatively by measuring volumetric electrical resistivity and its standard deviation. Apparent modulus containing the stress transfer was higher for acid-treated CNT composite than for the untreated case. Applied cyclic loading responded well for a single carbon fiber/CNT-epoxy composite by the change in contact resistivity. The interfacial shear strength between a single carbon fiber and CNT-epoxy, determined in a fiber pullout test, was lower than that between a single carbon fiber and neat epoxy. Regarding on micro-damage sensing using electrical resistivity measurement with AE, the stepwise increment in electrical resistivity was observed for a single carbon fiber/CNT -epoxy composite. On the other hand, electrical resistivity increased infinitely right after the first carbon fiber breaks for a single carbon fiber/neat epoxy composite. The occurrence of AE events of added CNT composites was much higher than the neat epoxy case, due to micro failure at the interfaces by added CNTs.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.114-121
• /
• 2015

Mutli-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were surface-modified by a hydrofluoric acid solution to remove impurities and improve interfacial bonding and dispersion of nanotubes in an epoxy matrix. The crystallinity on the surface of treated MWCNTs was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The mechanical properties were characterized by tensile test, and the enhancement of mechanical properties of the modified MWCNTs/epoxy composites was indicated by a 33% increase in tensile strength. The electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI-SE) of modified MWCNTs/epoxy composites was improved with an increase in concentration of hydrofluoric solution, and EMI-SE showed the maximum increase with 25% HF. However, mechanical and EMI-SE properties didn't show further increase with over 50% HF concentration because the properties of MWCNTs were influenced by degradation of crystallinity and intrinsic properties of MWCNTs. The mechanical and electrical property enhancements of the polymer composites are attributed to the modification of MWCNTs which improve crystallinity of MWCNTs and dispersion in the epoxy resin.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.657-664
• /
• 2013

By using shear mixing and ultrasonication, we fabricated specimens of well-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotube composites. To confirm the proper dispersion of the filler, we used scanning electron microscopy images for quantitative evaluation and a tensile test for qualitative assessment. Furthermore, the coefficients of thermal expansion of several specimens having different filler contents were calculated from the measured thermal strains and temperatures of the specimens. Based on the microscopy images of the well-dispersed fillers and the small deviations in the measurements of the tensile strength and stiffness, we confirmed the proper dispersion of nanotubes in the epoxy. As the filler contents were increased, the values of tensile strength increased from 58.33 to 68.81 MPa, and those of stiffness increased from 2.93 to 3.27 GPa. At the same time, the coefficients of thermal expansion decreased. This implies better thermal stability of the specimen.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2004

The studies of particulate reinforced composites have been conducted for many years. The nanocomposites to be studied vigorously in recent years are one of them. We fabricated and studied multi-walled carbon nanotube(MWNT)/epoxy composites which may be useful as matrix for continuous fiber-reinforced composites. We investigated tensile properties of MWNT/epoxy composites as a function of MWNT concentration, which were prepared by the fabrication method established in this study. Tensile stiffness and strength increased 19% at 0.5 wt% and 12% at 0.2 wt%, respectively. We observed the reaggregation phenomenon of MWNTS during curing, which should be controlled to obtain higher tensile properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2014.02a
• /
• pp.187.2-187.2
• /
• 2014

최근 다양한 카본 나노소재들이 열 전도성 필러로써 고분자 복합체의 열전도도 향상을 위해 연구되고 있다. 그러나 구조적 이방성을 갖는 탄소나노튜브(CNT) 혹은 그래핀나노플레이트(Graphene Nanoplatelet)를 복합체에 적용할 경우, 복합체의 수직 방향과 수평 방향에서의 열전도도가 3배 이상 차이가 나는 문제가 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 2차원의 GNP 표면 위에 1차원의 CNT를 직접 성장시킨 하이브리드 탄소소재를 이용하여 이러한 열전도도 이방성을 개선하고자 하였다. 하이브리드 탄소소재는 무전해 도금법과 열기상법으로 제조하였다. 합성된 하이브리드 탄소소재 및 CNT를 단독 혹은 혼합하여 필러를 만들고 이를 에폭시 기지 내에 분산시켜 복합체를 제작하였다. 필러 함량별, 필러 비율별로 제작된 복합체의 열전도도를 레이저 플래시 법으로 측정 비교하였다. 결과적으로 기존의 단일 필러들보다 열전도도 이방성이 1.5배 이상 개선된 방열용 에폭시 복합체를 제작할 수 있었다. 한편 하이브리드 탄소와 2% 이하의 CNT 배합에서 단독 필러 투입에 비해 45% 이상의 열전도율 향상을 확인하였다. 이는 미세구조 분석 및 성분 분석 결과, 필러 분산 정도가 열전도도 향상의 주요 인자로 작용하는 것을 확인하였고 기지 내 CNT가 열전도도 경로로 작용하기보다는 하이브리드 탄소소재의 균일한 분산에 영향을 준 것으로 사료된다.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.285-290
• /
• 2016

To improve properties of epoxy composites, surfaces of the illite and carbon nanotube (CNT) were treated by fluorine gas. The fluorinated illite and CNT were then characterized by X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) and the mechanical and thermal properties of their composites were evaluated. The tensile and impact strengths and thermal stability of the composites increased upto about 59%, 18% and 124%, respectively compared to those of the neat epoxy. Improvements of mechanical and thermal properties in the composites were attributed that the fluorination of illite and carbon nanotube helps to enhance the dispersion in epoxy resin and interfacial interaction between them.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.548-552
• /
• 2011

Two functionalization methods, i.e., acid treatment and chemical amidation were performed to prepare the functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), and the properties of epoxy/functionalized MWCNT composites were investigated and compared. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to confirm the surface functionality of the MWCNT obtained by the functionalization methods. The effects of the MWCNT functionalization on the interface and thermal conductivity were studied by zeta potential analyzer, scanning electron microscope and thermal conductivity analyzer. From these results, it was confirmed that the thermal conductivity of the epoxy/MWCNT composites could be increased by grafting with dodecylamine. This could be interpreted by relatively strong dispersion forces of the grafting MWCNT with dodecylamine in DGEBF epoxy resin. These results were in good agreement with the results that the zeta potential value of the grafting MWCNT with dodecylamine has a higher negative value than that of MWCNT with acid treatment.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.285-290
• /
• 2004

Nondestructive damage sensitivity of carbon nanotube(CNT) and nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites with their adding contents was investigated using electro-micromechanical technique. Carbon black (CB) was used only for the comparison with CNT and CNF. The fracture of carbon fiber was detected by acoustic emission (AE), which was correlated to the change in electrical resistance, ΔR under double-matrix composites (DMC) test. Stress sensing on carbon nanocomposites was performed by electro-pullout test under uniform cyclic loading. At the same volume fraction, the damage sensitivity for fiber fracture, matrix deformation and stress sensing were highest for CNT/epoxy composite, whereas for CB/epoxy composite they were the lowest among three carbon nanomaterials (CNMs). Damage sensitivity was correlated with morphological observation of carbon nanocomposites. Homogeneous dispersion among CNMs could be keying parameters for better damage monitoring. In this study, damage sensing of carbon nanocomposites could be evaluated well nondestructively by the electrical resistance measurement with AE.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.21-26
• /
• 2005

Nondestructive damage sensing and load transfer mechanisms of carbon nanotube (CNT) and nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites have been investigated by using electro-micromechanical technique. The electrospun PVDF nanofibers were also prepared as a piezoelectric sensor. The electro-micromechanical techniques were applied to evaluate sensing response of carbon nanocomposites by measuring electrical resistance under an uniform cyclic loading. Composites with higher volume content of CNT showed significantly higher tensile properties than neat and low volume$\%$ CNT composites. CNT composites showed humidity sensing within limited temperature range. CNT composites with smaller aspect ratio showed higher apparent modulus due to high volume content in case of shorter aspect ratio. Thermal treated electrospun PVDF nanofiber showed higher mechanical properties than the untreated case due to crystallinity increase, whereas load sensing decreased in heat treated case. Electrospun PVDF nanofiber web also showed sensing effect on humidity and temperature as well as stress transferring. Nanocomposites and electrospun PVDF nanofiber web can be applicable for sensing application.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.1059-1066
• /
• 2009

Recently, the amount of thermosetting plastic wastes has increased with the production of reinforced plastic composites and causes serious environmental problems. The epoxy resins, one of the versatile thermosetting plastics with excellent properties, cannot be melted down and remolded as what is done in the thermoplastic industry. In this research, a series of experiments that decompose epoxy resin and recover carbon fibers from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites applied to railway vehicles was performed. We experimentally examined various decomposition processes and compared their decomposition efficiencies and mechanical property of recovered carbon fibers. For the prevention of tangle of recovered carbon fibers, each composites specimen was fixed with a Teflon supporter and no mechanical mixing was applied. Decomposition products were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS), and universal testing machine (UTM). Carbon fibers could be completely recovered from decomposition process using nitric acid aqueous solution, liquid-phase thermal cracking and pyrolysis. The tensile strength losses of the recovered carbon fibers were less than 4%.