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

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

• Composites Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.38-44
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• 2004

The electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is very essential for commercial and military purposes. We fabricated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)/epoxy composites and studied the electromagnetic characteristics of the composites before we study the characteristics of MWNT-added glass fiber-reinforced composites. After setting up the fabrication process, we measured the permittivity of MWNT/epoxy composites with process variables and MWNT concentrations in X-band (8.2GHz~12.4GHz). We also observed re-aggregation phenomenon of MWNTs and investigated its effect on the permittivity. The permittivity of the composites was influenced by the degree of dispersion of MWNTs and increased almost linearly as MWNT concentration increases.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.657-664
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• 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
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2006

MWNT(multi-walled carbon nanotube)-filled plain-weave glass/epoxy composites were fabricated and electromagnetic characteristics of the composites were investigated. The observation of the microstructures of the composites revealed that MWNTs are mostly distributed in matrix rich region and the interface between glass fiber yarns in warp and fill direction. The permittivity of the composites, measured in X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz) frequency range, increased with weight fraction of MWNTs and remained almost constant with frequency. The measured permittivity was used to investigate the reflection loss of radar absorbing structures (RAS) composed of MWNT-filled composites according to thickness and a RAS were constructed with 10 dB absorbing bandwidth 4.2 GHz and 3.3 mm in thickness.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.306-314
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• 2016

In this study, to improve the thermal stabilities of the epoxy composite specimens in addition to the enhanced mechanical properties, those were reinforced with carbon nanotubes and micrometer-sized silica particles. To disperse the filler in matrix relatively simple physical process, specimens were fabricated using shear mixing and sonication. Tensile strength, coefficients of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of the specimens were measured with varied contents of the two fillers. The mechanical and thermal properties were also discussed, and the experimental results of thermal expansion related to the thermal stability of the specimens were compared with those from several micromechanics models. The hybrid composites specimens incorporating 0.6 wt％ of carbon nanotubes and 50 wt％ of silica particles showed better mechanical properties than the others with increase in tensile strength up to 11％, with respect to those of the baseline specimens. As the silica contents were increased the thermal expansion was reduced down to 36%, and the thermal stability was improved with the decreased thermal deformation. Thermal conductivity of the epoxy composite specimens incorporating 50 wt％ of silica particles was enhanced, which demonstrate improvement of 72%. The mechanical and thermal properties of the hybrid composites specimens incorporating the two fillers were improved simultaneously.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.401-406
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• 2005

In this work, the effect of chemical treatment of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on glass transition temperature (Tg), thermal stability, and dynamic viscoelastic behaviors of MWNTs-reinforced epoxy matrix composites has been studied by differencial scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements. The MWNTs were chemically treated with 35 wt％ $H_3PO_4$ (A-MWNTs) or 35 wt％ KOH (B-MWNTs) solutions and the changes of surface properties of chemically treated MWNTs were examined by pH, acid and base values, Fourier transfer-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The chemical treatments based on acid and base reactions led to a significant change of surface characteristics and chemical compositions of the MWNTs, especially A-MWNTs/epoxy composites had higher thermal stability and dynamic viscoelastic properties than those of B-MWNTs and non-treated MWNTs/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.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.58-63
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• 2010

Tensile and flexural properties and electrical conductivity of MWCNT/epoxy composites with different aspect ratios of MWCNTs were compared. The MWCNT/epoxy mixtures were prepared by mechanical dispersion methods using a homomixer and a three-roll mill, and then composite samples were fabricated by compression molding process. The fractured surfaces of the samples were observed by SEM in order to evaluate the degree of dispersion of MWCNTs. The addition of MWCNTs into epoxy resin improved its tensile strength by 7.0% while its flexural strength increased slightly as compared with the one without MWCNTs. In the case of MWCNTs having highest aspect ratio, the mechanical properties of the composites were decreased. When the contents of CM-95 MWCNTs were varied, maximum of tensile and flexural strengths occurred at 1wt% and 0.5wt%, respectively. From the higher contents than these, tensile and flexural strengths of the composites decreased. Electrical conductivities of in-plane and thought-the-thickness directions of MWCNT/epoxy composites were measured using a two-point probe method. They increased with the increase of the aspect ratios and concentrations of MWCNTs in the epoxy matrix.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2017

The effect of a multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNCT) on the adhesive properties and thermal properties of epoxy were studied by double lap-shear tests. Epoxy/MWCNT resins were prepared from a different amount of the MWCNT incorporated into the epoxy resins (araldite 2011). Steel plates and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) were chosen as materials. Mechanical tests were performed by a universal testing machine (UTM). The analysis of thermal properties were conducted by a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The fracture surface morphology was examined using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscope. Compared to neat epoxy, it was found that the mechanical properties of epoxy/MWCNT resins are increased.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.449-454
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• 2013

In this work, the effect of electroless Ni-plating of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on thermal conductivity and fracture toughness properties of MWCNTs/$Al_2O_3$/epoxy composites was investigated. The surface properties of the Ni-plated MWCNTs were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Thermal conductivity was tested using a thermal conductivity measuring system. The fracture toughness of the composites was carried out through the critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$) measurement. As a result, the electroless Ni-plated MWCNTs led to a significant change of surface characteristics of the MWCNTs. Thermal conductivity and fracture toughness of the MWCNTs/$Al_2O_3$/epoxy composites were greater than those of non-treated ones. These results were probably due to the improvement of intermolecular interaction between the Ni-MWCNTs and the matrix resins.