• Carbon letters
• /
• v.19
• /
• pp.23-31
• /
• 2016

Carbon rich fly ash was recently reported to have compositions that are ideal for use as a precursor and catalyst for carbon nanotube growth. This fly ash powder is mostly composed of pure carbon, predominantly present as sp². In this work, the effect of sonication time on the morphology and structural properties of carbon rich fly ash particles is reported. The obtained results show that ultrasound treatment is an effective tool for producing ultrafine particles/fragments with higher porosity, which might be suitable for the adsorption of gasses. Moreover, carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) of this fly ash were produced in parallel using the ball milling technique, and were evaluated as reinforcements for epoxy based composites. These CNPs have almost spherical shapes with particle sizes of around 30 nm. They were found to have strong C=O carbonyl group bonds, which might be generated during the ball milling process. The tensile testing results of a fly ash CNP reinforced epoxy composite showed significant improvements in the mechanical properties, mainly in the stiffness of the polymer. The stiffness value was increased by around 23% of that of neat epoxy. These CNPs with chemically active groups might also be useful for other applications.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.260-264
• /
• 2015

In this paper, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was carried to predict thermo-mechanical behaviors for carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced epoxy composites and to analyze the trends. Total of six models having the volume fractions of CNT from 0 to 25% in epoxy were constructed. To predict thermal behaviors, temperature was increased constantly from 300 to 600 K, and the glass transition temperature ($T_g$) and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) analyzed using the relationship between temperature and specific volume. The elastic moduli that represented to the mechanical behaviors were also predicted by constant strain. Additionally, the effects of functionalization of CNT on mechanical behaviors of composite were analyzed. Models were constructed to represent CNTs functionalized by nitrogen doping and COOH groops, and interfacial behaviors and elastic moduli were analyzed. Results showed that the agglomerations of CNTs in epoxy cause by perturbations of thermo-mechanical behaviors, and the functionalization of CNTs improved the interfacial response as well as mechanical properties.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.4385-4391
• /
• 2012

In this article, the effects of shear mixing on the dispersion improvement of the carbon nanotube fillers in epoxy composites were studied. Through the scanning electron microscope images showing the quantitative results and the tensile tests giving the qualitative data, we can see the dispersion improvement of the fillers. The composite specimen containing 0.6 wt% fillers shows the biggest value of tensile strength. For the tensile stiffness, the specimens containing more filler have the larger values of tensile stiffness.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.435-442
• /
• 2023

Sports activities, including playing tennis, are popular with many people. As this industry has become more professionalized, investors and those involved in sports are sure to pay attention to any tool that improves athletes' performance Tennis requires perfect coordination between hands, eyes, and the whole body. Consequently, to perform long-term sports, athletes must have enough muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance. Tennis rackets with new frames were manufactured because tennis players' performance depends on their rackets. These rackets are distinguished by their lighter weight. Composite rackets are available in many types, most of which are made from the latest composite materials. During physical exercise with a tennis racket, nanocomposite materials have a significant effect on reducing injuries. Materials as strong as graphite and thermoplastic can be used to produce these composites that include both fiber and filament. Polyamide is a thermoplastic typically used in composites as a matrix. In today's manufacturing process, materials are made more flexible, structurally more vital, and lighter. This paper discusses the production, testing, and structural analysis of a new polyamide/Multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite. This polyamide can be a suitable substitute for other composite materials in the tennis racket frame. By compression polymerization, polyamide was synthesized. The functionalization of Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was achieved using sulfuric acid and nitric acid, followed by ultrasonic preparation of nanocomposite materials with weight percentages of 5, 10, and 15. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) confirmed a synthesized nanocomposite structure. Nanocomposites were tested for thermal resistance using the simultaneous thermal analysis (DTA-TG) method. scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was used to determine pores' size, structure, and surface area. An X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) analysis was used to determine their amorphous nature.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.218-227
• /
• 2013

A supercritical carbon dioxide (SCC) process of dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into epoxy resin has been developed to achieve MWCNT/epoxy composites (CECs) with improved mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. The synthesis of CECs has been executed at a MWCNT (phr) concentration ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 into epoxy resin (0.1 mol) at 1800 psi, $90^{\circ}C$, and 1500 rpm over 1 h followed by curing of the MWCNT/epoxy formulations with triethylene tetramine (15 phr). The effect of SCC treatment on the qualitative dispersion of MWCNTs at various concentrations into the epoxy has been investigated through spectra analyses and microscopy. The developed SCC assisted process provides a good dispersion of MWCNTs into the epoxy up to a MWCNT concentration of 0.2. The effects of SCC assisted dispersion at various concentrations of MWCNTs on modification of mechanical, thermal, dynamic mechanical thermal, and tribological properties and the electrical conductivity of CECs have been investigated.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.37 no.12
• /
• pp.1465-1471
• /
• 2013

The electrical and mechanical properties of room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber composites are investigated as functions of multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT), carbon black (CB), and thinner content. The thinner is used to improve the CNT and CB dispersion in the matrix. The electrical and mechanical properties of the composite with CNT are improved when compared to the composite with CB at the same content. As the thinner content is 80 phr, the electric resistance of the composite decreases significantly with the CNT content and shows contact point saturation of CNT at 2.5 phr. As the thinner content increases, the dispersion of conductive particles improves; however, the critical CB content increases because of the reduction in the CB weight ratio. It is believed that an electrode that needs good flexibility and excellent electrical properties can be manufactured when the amount of CNT and CB are increased with the thinner content.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.80-85
• /
• 2022

This work presents an experiment study to evaluate the nanoparticle adhesion and surface hydrophobicity characteristics of Teflon-polyurethane top coat depending on the number of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) coatings, which is a carbon-based hydrophobic particle. In order to measure the adhesion between the nanoparticles and the top coat, adhesion pull-off test was performed with different MWCNT oxidation times. Static contact angle and roughness measurements were carried out to characterize the surface hydrophobic behavior. Through the roughness evaluation, it was confirmed that the carbon nanotubes were wetted in the Teflon-polyurethane top coat, and the degree carbon nanotube wetting was confirmed through a USB-microscope. As a result, it was found that the larger the degree of wetting, the better the adhesion. From the experimental results, as the hydrophobicity of Teflon-polyurethane increased, the adhesive propertydecreased with the number of coatings. It was possible to improve the adhesive force and determine the number of coatings of carbon nanotubes with optimized hydrophobicity.

• Design & Manufacturing
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.14-19
• /
• 2016

Thermally or electrically conductive filler reinforced polymer composites are extensively being developed as the demand for light weight material increases rapidly in industiral applications need good conductivity such as heat sink of the electronics or light. Carbon or ceramic materials like graphite, carbon nanotube or boron nitride are typical conductive fillers with good thermal or electical conductivity. Using these conductive fillers, the polymer composites in the market show wide range of thermal conductivity from approximately 1 W/mK to 20 W/mK, which is quite enhanced considering the thermal conductivity lower than 0.5 W/mK for most polymeric materials. The practical use of these composites, however, is yet limited to specific applications because most composites are still not conductive enough or too difficult to process, too brittle, too expensive for higher conductivity. For practical use of conductive composite, the thermal conductivity required depending on the heat releasing mode are studied first for simplified unit cooling geometry to propose thermal conductivities of the composites for reasonable cooling performance comparing with the metal heat sink as a reference. Also, as a practical design for heat sink based on polymer composite, composite and metal sheet hybrid structures are investigated for LED lamp heat sink and audio amplication module housing to find that this hybrid structure can be a good solution considering all of the cooling performance, manufacturing, mechanical performance, cost and weight.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.494-499
• /
• 2013

Modified polypropylene (m-PP) was fabricated by furfuryl sulphide (FS) as branching agent and m-PP/nano-filler composites were prepared with silicate and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), using a twin screw extruder. The chemical structures and thermal properties of the m-PP were investigated by FTIR and DSC. The chemical structure of the m-PP was confirmed by the existence of =C-H stretching peak of the branching agent at 3100 $cm^{-1}$. There was no district change in melting temperature in case of m-PP, but a certain increase in crystallization temperature was notified and the increase was in the range of $10-20^{\circ}C$. The rheological properties, filler dispersion and foaming behaviors of the m-PP/nano-filler composites were investigated by dynamic rheometer, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning/transmission electron microscope (SEM/TEM). m-PP/nano-filler composites showed a high complex viscosity at a low frequency, an increase in melt elasticity, and a high shear thinning effect. Compared to pure PP, m-PP and m-PP/nano-filler composites were sufficient to enhance the foaming behavior.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.14-19
• /
• 2014

Nanocomposites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/(PVDF) blended with carbon fibers (CF) and carbon nanotube (CNT) were prepared by melt mixing in the twin screw extruder. Morphologies of the PMMA/PVDF/CF/CNT and PET/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposites were investigated using SEM. The aggregation of CNT was observed in PMMA/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposites while the good dispersion of CNT was shown in PET/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposites. In SEM image of PET/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposite, the CNT were mainly located at the PET domain of phase-separated PET/PVDF blend due to the ${\pi}-{\pi}$ interaction between the phenyl ring of PET and graphite sheet of the CNT's surface. In addition, a fairly good compatibility between PET/PVDF matrix and CF was shown in the SEM image. In the case of PET/PVDF nanocomposites blended with the co-addition of CF and CNT, the volume electrical resistivity decreased while no change was observed in PMMA/PVDF/CF/CNT composites. The degree of CNT dispersion in morphology results was consistent with the electrical conductivity results. From the DSC results, the crystallization temperature (Tc) of PET/PVDF/CF/CNT nanocomposites increased due to the co-addition of CF and CNTs acting as a nucleating agent. Flexural modulus of PET/PVDF/CF/CNT were sharply enhanced due to increasing the interaction between PET and CF.