• Carbon letters
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.187-189
• /
• 2012

This study investigates the flexural properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced basalt/epoxy composites under conditions with and without moisture absorption. The basalt/CNT/epoxy composites were fabricated using 1 wt% silanized MWCNTs and kept in seawater for over 4 months. The flexural properties of the moisture absorbed specimens were evaluated and compared with those of dry specimens. The flexural properties of basalt/CNT/epoxy composites were found to decrease with moisture absorption. The flexural strength and modulus of moisture absorbed specimens were 22% and 16% lower, respectively, than those of the dry specimen. Scanning electron microscope examination of the fracture surfaces revealed that the decreases of flexural properties in the moisture absorbed specimen were due to the weakening of interfacial bonding from swelling of the epoxy matrix.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.125-128
• /
• 2014

In this study, the effect of stacking sequence on the flexural and fracture properties of carbon/basalt/epoxy hybrid composites was investigated. Two types of carbon/basalt/epoxy hybrid composites with a sandwich form were fabricated: basalt skin-carbon core (BSCC) composites and carbon skin-basalt core (CSBC) composites. Fracture tests were conducted and the fracture surfaces of the carbon/basalt/epoxy hybrid composites were then examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the flexural strength and flexural modulus of the CSBC specimen respectively were ~32% and ~245% greater than those of the BSCC specimen. However, the interlaminar fracture toughness of the CSBC specimen was ~10% smaller than that of the BSCC specimen. SEM results on the fracture surface showed that matrix cracking is a dominant fracture mechanism for the CSBC specimen while interfacial debonding between fibers and epoxy resin is a dominant fracture process for the BSCC specimen.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.28 no.10
• /
• pp.1534-1540
• /
• 2004

This study aims to obtain fundamental understandings involving the manufacturing processes of nano-composites with chemically surface-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs), and explore the role of functionalized MWCNTs in the epoxy/MWCNT composites. For this purpose, MWCNTs were purified by the thermo-chemical oxidation process, and incorporated into an epoxy matrix by in situ polymerization process, the surface of MWCNTs were functionalized with carboxyl functions which were demonstrated by an infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of epoxy/MWCNT nano-composites were measured to investigate the role of a chemically functionalized carbon nanotubes. To improve the dispersion quality of MWCNTs in the epoxy matrix, methanol and acetone were exploited as dispersion media with sonification. The epoxy/MWCNT nano-composites with 1 or 2 wt.％ addition of functionalized carbon nanotubes show an improved tensile strength and wear resistance in comparison with pure epoxy, which shows the mechanical load transfer improves through chemical bonds between epoxy and functionalized MWCNTs. The tensile strength with 7 wt.％ functionalized MWCNTs increases by 28％ and the wear resistance is dramatically improved by 100 times.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.32-37
• /
• 2014

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/epoxy composites are prepared by a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) method. The mechanical properties, fracture surface morphologies, and thermal stabilities of these nanocomposites are evaluated for epoxy resins with various amounts of MWCNTs. Composites consisting of different amounts of MWCNTs displayed an increase of the work of adhesion between the MWCNTs and the matrix, which improved both the tensile and impact strengths of the composites. The tensile and impact strengths of the MWCNT/epoxy composite improved by 59 and 562% with 0.3 phr of MWCNTs, respectively, compared to the epoxy composite without MWCNTs. Thermal stability of the 0.3 phr MWCNT/epoxy composite increased compared to other epoxy composites with MWCNTs. The enhancement of the mechanical and thermal properties of the MWCNT/epoxy nanocomposites is attributed to improved dispersibility and strong interfacial interaction between the MWCNTs and the epoxy in the composites prepared by VARTM.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.58-61
• /
• 2013

In this work, the effect of catalysts on the mechanical properties of carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites cured by cationic latent thermal catalysts, i.e., N-benzylpyrazinium hexafluoroantimonate (BPH) was studied. Differential scanning calorimetry was executed for thermal characterization of the epoxy matrix system. Mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied by interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$), and specific fracture energy ($G_{IC}$). As a result, the conversion of neat epoxy matrix cured by BPH was higher than that of one cured by diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM). The ILSS, $K_{IC}$, $G_{IC}$, and impact strength of the composites cured by BPH were also superior to those of the composites cured by DDM. This was probably the consequence of the effect of the substituted benzene group of BPH catalyst, resulting in an increase in the cross-link density and structural stability of the composites studied.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2004.04a
• /
• pp.126-131
• /
• 2004

Chemically modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes with acids were incorporated into a epoxy matrix by in situ polymerization process, to improve the transfer of mechanical load through chemical bonds, which were demonstrated by infrared spectroscopy. And the mechanical properties of epoxy/carbon nanotube composites were measured to investigate the role of carbon nanotubes. The epoxy/carbon nanotube composites shows higher tensile strength and wear resistance than existing epoxy, with 1 or 2 wt. % addition of functionalized carbon nanotubes. The tensile strength with 7 wt. % carbon nanotibes is increased by a 28% and the wear resistance in exceptionally increased by an outstanding 100 times.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.237-240
• /
• 2002

Amino terminated polyetherimide(ATPEI) has been synthesized by bisphthalic anhydride arid m-phenylenediamine, after that characterized by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA). Fourier transform (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography(GPC). ATPEI was blend to improve the toughness of bisphenol-A type epoxy resin which was cured by nadic methyl anhydride(NMA). The fracture toughness and the molphology of the toughened epoxy resin was evaluated. The toughness of ATPEI modified epoxy resin was higher than that of the PEI modified epoxy resin. In addtion, carbon fiber/ATPEI modified epoxy resin composites were fabricated and the mechanical properties of the resulted composites were investigated.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.430-435
• /
• 2009

The effect of oxyfluorination temperature on the surface properties of carbon fibers and their reinforced epoxy composites was investigated. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy results for the oxyfluorinated carbon fibers revealed carboxyl/ester (C=O) and hydroxyl (O-H) groups at 1632 and 3450 $cm^{-1}$, respectively, and that the oxyfluorinated carbon fibers had a higher O-H peak intensity than that of the fluorinated ones. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that after oxyfluorination, graphitic carbon was the major carbon functional component on the carbon fiber surfaces, while other functional groups present were C-O, C=O, HO-C=O, and $C-F_x$. These components improved the impact properties of oxyfluorinated carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy composites by improving the interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibers and the epoxy matrix resins.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.25
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2018

This study suggests the novel thermoplastic toughening agent, which can be applied in the monomer forms without increasing the viscosity of the epoxy resin and polymerized during the resin curing. The diazide (p-BAB) and dialkyne (SPB) compounds are synthesized and mixed with the epoxy resin and the carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites are prepared using vacuum infusion process (VIP). Then, flexural and drop weight tests are performed to evaluate the improvement in the toughness of the prepared composites to investigate the potential of the novel toughening agent. When 10 phr of p-BAB and SPB is added, the flexural properties are improved, maintaining the modulus as well as the toughness is improved. Even with a small amount of polytriazolesulfone polymerized, due to the filtering effect of the solid SPB by the layered carbon fabrics during the VIP, the toughening and strengthening effect were observed from the novel toughening agent, which could be added in monomer forms, p-BAB and SPB. This suggests that the novel toughening agent has a potential to be used for the composites prepared from viscosity sensitive process, such as resin transfer molding and VIP.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.1237-1240
• /
• 2010

The mechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-reinforced epoxy matrix composites with different weight percentages of MWNTs have been investigated. Also, the morphologies and failure behaviors of the composites after mechanical tests are studied by SEM and TEM analyses. As a result, the addition of MWNTs into the epoxy matrix has a remarkable effect on the mechanical properties. And the fracture surfaces of MWNTs/epoxy composites after flexural strength tests show different failure mechanisms for the composites under different nanotube contents. Also, a chemical functionalization of MWNTs can be a useful tool to improve the dispersion of the nanotubes in an epoxy system, resulting in increasing the mechanical properties of the composite materials studied.