• Advanced Composite Materials
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.209-219
• /
• 2009

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown great potential for the reinforcement of polymers or fiber-reinforced composites. In this study, mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-filled plain-weave glass/epoxy composites intended for use in radar absorbing structures were evaluated with regard to filler loading, microstructure, and fiber volume fraction. The plain-weave composites containing MWNTs exhibited improved matrix-dominant and interlaminar fracture-related properties, that is, compressive and interlaminar shear strength. This is attributed to strengthening of the matrix rich region and the interface between glass yarns by the MWNTs. However, tensile properties were only slightly affected by the addition of MWNTs, as they are fiber-dominant properties.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2009.06a
• /
• pp.765-768
• /
• 2009

In this work, we prepared the activated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Acti-MWNTs) with well developed physical surface structures, high specific surface area, and higher adsorption capacity by a physical activation process, in order to enhance the hydrogen storage capacity. The Acti-MWNTs' changes in the crystalline phase and in their lattice distortions were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The textural properties of the Acti-MWNTs were investigated by a nitrogen adsorption isotherms by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) equation and Harvath-Kawazoe (H-K) calculation, respectively. The hydrogen storage capacity of the Acti-MWNTs was investigated by BEL-HP at 298 K/100 bar. The hydrogen storage capacity of the Acti-MWNTs was improved with the physical activation, resulted from the formation of new hydrogen-favorable sites on the Acti-MWNT surfaces. In conclusion, the physical activation was one of the effective method to enhance the hydrogen storage capacity of the MWNTs.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.240-249
• /
• 2014

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) reinforced poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) composites are studied. To increase the interfacial interactions between PET and MWNTs, the MWNTs are functionalized with bishydroxy-ethylene-terephthalate (BHET). The functionalized MWNTs are melt blended into PET matrix using a twin screw extruder. The amount of MWNTs loaded in PET matrix ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%. After compounding and spinning, the filaments are post-drawn and annealed. To verify the chemical modifications of carbon nanotubes, Raman, $^1H$ NMR, XPS, TGA and FE-SEM are used. The nanocomposites are also analyzed with DSC, TGA, and UTM. These tests show that crystallization temperature and thermal degradation temperature increase due to the functionalized MWNTs. Also, tensile test shows that yield strength and toughness increase more than 30% with addition of only 1 wt% of MWNTs. These results show that the introduction of BHET onto the MWNTs is a very effective way in manufacturing MWNT/PET composite.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.102-106
• /
• 2010

In this work, the effect of aminized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NH-MWNTs) on the mechanical interfacial properties of epoxy nanocomposites was investigated by means of fracture toughness, critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$), and impact strength testing, and their morphology was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the incorporation of amine groups onto MWNTs was confirmed by the FT-IR and Raman spectra. The mechanical interfacial properties of the epoxy nanocomposites were remarkably improved with increasing the NH-MWNT content. It was probably attributed to the strong physical interaction between amine groups of NH-MWNTs and epoxide groups of epoxy resins. The SEM micrographs showed that NH-MWNTs were uniformly embed and bonded with epoxy resins, resulted in the prevention of the deformation and crack propagation in the NH-MWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.444-450
• /
• 2006

IPMC actuators have been developed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNT) and $Nafion^{\circledR}$ ionic polymers. MWNT with different diameters of $3{\sim}5,\;4{\sim}6$ and $10{\sim}15$ nm and length of $10{\sim}20{\mu}m$ were used to enhance the mechanical and electrical performances of IPMC actuators. Ultrasonic treatment and high speed mixing were used to disperse MWNT homogeneously in $Nafion^{\circledR}$ solution. The electroless plating technique is used to make electrodes on the both side of the composite membrane. SEM and TEM images were taken to characterize the surface and micro-structures of the composite actuators. In this study, improved IPMC actuators were developed and compared with respect to bending actuation performance and electrical power consumptions.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.612-616
• /
• 2012

In this work, the effect of chemical treatments of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the mechanical interfacial properties of carbon fiber fabric-reinforced composites was investigated. The surface properties of the MWNTs were determined by acid and base values, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were assessed by interlaminar shear stress (ILSS) and critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$). The chemical treatments based on acid and base reactions led to a significant change of surface characteristics of the MWNTs, especially A-MWNTs/carbon fibers/epoxy composites had higher mechanical properties than those of B-MWNTs and non-treated MWNTs/carbon fibers/epoxy composites. These results were probably due to the improvement of interfacial bonding strength, resulting from the acid-base interaction and hydrogen bonding between the epoxy resins and the MWNT fillers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.33-36
• /
• 2003

AC and DC conductivity of the MWNT(Multi walled nanotubes)/polyurethane composites were investigated with respect to the various oxidative conditions, where these means acid concentration, treatment temperature, and treatment time. We suppose that the conditions of oxidation of the MWNTS have a certain influence on the degree of functionalization, damages, and dispersion of the MWNT themselves. Futhermore, the electrical properties of the resulting composites strongly depend on the oxidative conditions of MWNTS. The conductivity of the composites produced by using the optimal condition was measured as a function of frequency with volume content of MWNTS. These experimental results were analyzed using percolation theory Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (SE) of the mixtures of polyurethane (PU), optimized MWNTs, and silver (Ag) is measured in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 6 ㎓ by using ASTM D4935-89. The measured SEs of the mixtures could be controlled from about 55 dB to 85 dB with the compositions of Ag/MWNT and compounding methods(C1, C2).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2009.06a
• /
• pp.49-49
• /
• 2009

Nanocomposites of gold nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by electrostatic interaction. Gold nanopartic1es were stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) in aqueous medium, and MWNTs were modified by poly(diallyldimethylammonium)chloride (PDDA) in water. The as-perpared Au-MWNT nanocomposites were structurally and electrically characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclo voltammetry (CV). UV/Vis spectra of Au-MWNT nanocomposites showed the characteristic surface plasmon bands in the range of ~515nm, depending on the stabilizers. There is only slight change on the band shape with variation of stabilizing agents for gold nanoparticles. Through FE-SEM and TEM images, the distribution of gold, nanoparticles on the sidewalls of MWNTs was deliberately investigated on Au-MWNT nanocomposites treated with different stabilizers. XPS and CV showed redistribution of electron densities and changes in the binding energy states of nanopartic1es in nanocomposite respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2010

In this work, the electrochemical properties of surface treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were studied. Nitrogen and oxygen functional groups of the MWNTs were introduced by urea and acidic treatment, respectively. The surface functional groups of the MWNTs were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements and zeta-potential method. The characteristics of $N_2$ adsorption isotherm at 77 K, specific surface area, and total pore volumes were investigated by BET eqaution, BJH method and t-plot method. Electrochemical properties of the functionalized MWNTs were accumulated by cyclic voltammetry at the scan rates of 50 $mVs^{-1}$ and 100 $mVs^{-1}$ in 1M $H_2SO_4$ as electrolytes. As a result, the functionalized MWNTs led to an increase of capacitance as compared with pristine MWNTs. It was found that the increase of capacitance for urea treated MWNTs was attributed to the increase in density of surface functional groups, resulting in improving the wettability between electrode materials and charge species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.455-456
• /
• 2007

Optically transparent, highly conductive coating have been major theme of thin film science efforts for some years. In this work, t-MWNT(thin Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes) are acid treated, then the stable dispersion of t-MWNTs in polar solvent such as alcohols, was achieved by sonication. The transparent conducting films are prepared using the one component solution of t-MWNT/epoxy binder via spray coating on glass substrate. The characterization of acid treated t-MWNTs was performed by Raman spectrometer. The opto-electrical properties of conducting films are analyzed by the binder concentration, and the effect of co-solvent on the compatibility and dispersibility of one component t-MWNT/epoxy binder solutions are discussed.