• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.309-314
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• 2013

Highly ablation resistant carbon nanotube (CNT)-phenolic composites were fabricated by the addition of low concentrations of CNT nanofiller. Tensile and compressive properties as well as ablative resistance were significantly improved by the addition of only 0.1 and 0.3 wt% of uniformly dispersed CNTs. An oxygen-kerosene-flame torch and a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) were used to evaluate the ablative properties and microstructures of these CNT-phenolic composites. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the ablation rate was lower for the 0.3 wt% CNT-phenolic composites than for neat phenolic or the composite with 0.1 wt% CNT. Ablative mechanisms for all three materials were investigated using this TGA in conjunction with microstructural studies using a FE-SEM. The microstructural studies revealed that CNT acted as an ablation resistant phase at high temperatures, and that the uniformity of dispersion of the CNT played an important role in this resistance to ablation.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.88-93
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• 2011

Optimal dispersion and fabrication conditions of carbon nanotube (CNT) embedded in phenolic resin were determined by electrical resistance measurement; and interfacial property was investigated between plasma treated carbon fiber and CNT-phenolic composites by electro-micromechanical techniques. Wettability of carbon fiber was improved significantly after plasma treatment. Surface energies of carbon fiber and CNT-phenolic nanocomposites were measured using Wilhelmy plate technique. Since surface activation of carbon fiber, the advancing contact angle decreased from $65^{\circ}$ to $28^{\circ}$ after plasma treatment. It was consistent with static contact angle results of carbon fiber. Work of adhesion between plasma treated carbon fiber and CNT-phenolic nanocomposites was higher than that without modification. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and apparent modulus also increased with plasma treatment of carbon fiber.