• 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.