• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2024

Boron nitride nanotubes and carbon nanotubes are the most representative one-dimensional nanostructures, and have received great attention as reinforcement for multifunctional composites for their excellent physical properties. The two nanotubes have similar excellent mechanical stiffness, strength, and heat conduction properties. Therefore, the reinforcing effect of these two nanotubes is greatly influenced by the properties of their interface with the polymer matrix. In this paper, recent comparative studies on the reinforcing effect of boron nitride nanotubes and carbon nanotubes through experimental pull-out test and in-silico simulation are summarized. In addition, the conflicting aspect of the two different nanotubes with structural defects in their side wall is discussed on the viscoelastic damping performance of nanocomposites.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.367-375
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• 2016

Although the bucky paper (BP) made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possesses beneficial characteristics of hydrophobic nature and high porosity for membrane distillation (MD) application, weak mechanical strength of BP has often prevented the stable operation. This study aims to fabricate the BP with high mechanical strength to improve its MD performance. The strategy was to increase the purity level of CNTs with an assumption that purer CNTs would increase the Van der Waals attraction, leading to the improvement of mechanical strength of BP. According to this study results, the purification of CNT does not necessarily enhance the mechanical strength of BP. The BP made from purer CNTs demonstrated a high flux ($142kg/m^2{\cdot}h$) even at low ${\Delta}T$ ($50^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$) during the experiments of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). However, the operation was not stable because a crack quickly formed. Then, a support layer of AAO (anodic aluminum oxide) filter paper was introduced to reinforce the mechanical strength of BP. The support reinforcement was able to increase the mechanical strength, but wetting occurred. Therefore, the mixed matrix membrane (PSf-CNT) using CNTs as filler to polysulphone was fabricated. The DCMD operation with the PSf-CNT membrane was stable, although the flux was low ($6.1kg/m^2{\cdot}h$). This result suggests that the mixed matrix membrane could be more beneficial for the stable DCMD operation than the BP.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.375-381
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• 2019

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are covalently functionalized with isocyanates by directly reacting commercial hydroxyl functionalized MWCNTs with excess 4,4'-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) and hexamethylene diiosocyanate (HDI). HDI-modified MWCNTs results in a higher surface isocyanate density than MDI-modified MWCNTs. Anionic ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam is conducted using a sodium caprolactam initiator in combination with a di-functional hexamethylene-1,6-dicarbamoylcaprolactam activator in the presence of isocyanate functionalized MWCNTs. This polymerization proceeds in a highly efficient manner at relatively low reaction temperature (150℃) and short reaction times (10 min). During the polymerization, the isocyanate functionalized MWCNTs act not only as reinforcing fillers but also as second activators. Nanocomposites with HDI modified MWCNTs exhibit higher reinforcement and faster isothermal crystallization than MDI modified MWCNTs. The results show that PA6 chains grow more effectively from HDI modified MWCNT surface than from MDI modified MWCNT surface, resulting in stronger interaction between PA6 and MWCNTs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.301-301
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• 2003

In current study, Nanocomposites are reinforced with carbon nanofiber, carbon nanotube and SiC, etc. Since the nano reinforcements have the excellent mechanical, thermal and electrical properties compared with that of existing composites, it has lately attracted considerable attention in the various areas. Cu have been widely used as signal transmission materials for electrical electronic components owing to its high electrical conductivity. However, it's size have been limited to small ones due to its poor mechanical properties. Until now, strengthening of the copper alloy was obtained either by the solid solution and precipitation hardening by adding alloy elements or the work hardening by deformation process. Adding the alloy elements lead to reduction of electrical conductivity. In this aspect, if carbon nanofiber is used as reinforcement which have outstanding mechanical strength and electric conductivity, it is possible to develope Cu matrix nanocomposite having almost no loss of electric conductivity. It is expected to be innovative in electric conducting material market. The unidirectional alignment of carbon nanofiber is the most challenging task developing the cooer matrix composites of high strength and electric conductivity. In this study, the unidirectional alignment of carbon nanofibers which is used reinforced material are controlled by drawing process and align mechanism as well as optimized drawing process parameter are verified via numerical analysis. The materials used in this study were pure copper and the nanofibers of 150nm in diameter and of 10∼20$\mu\textrm{m}$ in length. The materials have been tested and the tensile strength was 75MPa with the elongation of 44% for the copper. it is assumed that carbon nanofiber behave like porous elasto-plastic materials. Compaction test was conducted to obtain constitutive properties of carbon nanofiber Optimal parameter for drawing process was obtained by analytical and numerical analysis considering the various drawing angles, reduction areas, friction coefficient, etc. The lower drawing angles and lower reduction areas provides the less rupture of co tube is noticed during the drawing process and the better alignment of carbon nanofiber is obtained.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.136-143
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• 2021

Polyurea has been investigated as a polymer matrix for composite materials because of its high mechanical strength. Although polyurea has a similar chemical structure to polyurethane, it has much higher strength and durability. In this study, the fabrication of polyurea composites reinforced with carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene oxide (GO) is demonstrated to enhance the tensile strength of the glass fibers composite. Using FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, the chemical structures of polyurea, CNT, and GO are investigated. As a result, spectroscopy analysis reveals that the chemical structure of CNT, GO, and polyurea is maintained during the fabrication of the composite structure. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the uniform distribution of CNT and GO across the polyurea matrix. The reinforcement of 1 wt% CNT in polyurea enhances the tensile strength of CNT/polyurea composites. In contrast, the reinforcement of GO in polyurea induces the degradation of the tensile strength of GO/polyurea composites.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2018

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-copper (Cu) composites are successfully fabricated by a combination of a binder-free wet mixing and spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The SPS is performed under various conditions to investigate optimized processing conditions for minimizing the structural defects of CNTs and densifying the MWCNT-Cu composites. The electrical conductivities of MWCNT-Cu composites are slightly increased for compositions containing up to 1 vol.% CNT and remain above the value for sintered Cu up to 2 vol.% CNT. Uniformly dispersed CNTs in the Cu matrix with clean interfaces between the treated MWCNT and Cu leading to effective electrical transfer from the treated MWCNT to the Cu is believed to be the origin of the improved electrical conductivity of the treated MWCNT-Cu composites. The results indicate the possibility of exploiting CNTs as a contributing reinforcement phase for improving the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties in the Cu matrix composites.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.509-519
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• 2024

In this study, the static analysis of carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (CNTRC) beams resting on a Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation is presented. The developed theories account for higher-order variation of transverse shear strain through the depth of the beam and satisfy the stress-free boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the beam. To study the effect of carbon nanotubes distribution in functionally graded (FG-CNT), we introduce in the equation of CNT volume fraction a new exponent equation. The SWCNTs are assumed to be aligned and distributed in the polymeric matrix with different patterns of reinforcement. The rule of mixture is used to describe the material properties of the CNTRC beams. The governing equations were derived by employing Hamilton's principle. The models presented in this work are numerically provided to verify the accuracy of the present theory. The analytical solutions are presented, and the obtained results are compared with the existing solutions to verify the validity of the developed theories. Many parameters are investigated, such as the Pasternak shear modulus parameter, the Winkler modulus parameter, the volume fraction, and the order of the exponent in the volume fraction equation. New results obtained from bending and stresses are presented and discussed in detail. From the obtained results, it became clear the influence of the exponential CNTs distribution and Winkler-Pasternak model improved the mechanical properties of the CNTRC beams.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.447-476
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• 2024

The current research proposes an innovative finite element model established within the context of higher-order beam theory to examine the bending and buckling behaviors of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beams resting on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundations. This two-node beam element includes four degrees of freedom per node and achieves inter-element continuity with both C¹ and C⁰ continuities for kinematic variables. The isoparametric coordinate system is implemented to generate the elementary stiffness and geometric matrices as a way to enhance the existing model formulation. The weak variational equilibrium equations are derived from the principle of virtual work. The mechanical properties of FG-CNTRC beams are considered to vary gradually and smoothly over the beam thickness. The current investigation highlights the influence of porosity dispersions through the beam cross-section, which is frequently omitted in previous studies. For this reason, this analysis offers an enhanced comprehension of the mechanical behavior of FG-CNTRC beams under various boundary conditions. Through the comparison of the current results with those published previously, the proposed finite element model demonstrates a high rate of efficiency and accuracy. The estimated results not only refine the precision in the mechanical analysis of FG-CNTRC beams but also offer a comprehensive conceptual model for analyzing the performance of porous composite structures. Moreover, the current results are crucial in various sectors that depend on structural integrity in specific environments.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.347-360
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• 2017

The goal of this study is to fill this apparent gap in the area about vibration analysis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) curved panels by providing 3-D vibration analysis results for functionally graded multiwalled carbon nanotubes (FG-MWCNTs) sandwich structure with power-law distribution of nanotube. The effective material properties of the FG-MWCNT structures are estimated using a modified Halpin-Tsai equation. Modified Halpin-Tsai equation was used to evaluate the Young's modulus of MWCNT/epoxy composite samples by the incorporation of an orientation as well as an exponential shape factor in the equation. The exponential shape factor modifies the Halpin-Tsai equation from expressing a straight line to a nonlinear one in the MWCNTs wt% range considered. Also, the mass density and Poisson's ratio of the MWCNT/phenolic composite are considered based on the rule of mixtures. Parametric studies are carried out to highlight the influence of MWCNT volume fraction in the thickness, different types of CNT distribution, boundary conditions and geometrical parameters on vibrational behavior of FG-MWCNT thick curved panels. Because of using two-dimensional generalized differential quadrature method, the present approach makes possible vibration analysis of cylindrical panels with two opposite axial edges simply supported and arbitrary boundary conditions including Free, Simply supported and Clamped at the curved edges. For an overall comprehension on 3-D vibration analysis of sandwich panel, some mode shape contour plots are reported in this research work.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.713-733
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• 2015

In this paper, viscous fluid induced nonlinear free vibration and instability analysis of a functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (CNTRC) cylindrical shell integrated with two uniformly distributed piezoelectric layers on the top and bottom surfaces of the cylindrical shell are presented. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are selected as reinforcement and effective material properties of FG-CNTRC cylindrical shell are assumed to be graded through the thickness direction and are estimated through the rule of mixture. The elastic foundation is modeled by temperature-dependent orthotropic Pasternak medium. Considering coupling of mechanical and electrical fields, Mindlin shell theory and Hamilton's principle, the motion equations are derived. Nonlinear frequency and critical fluid velocity of sandwich structure are calculated based on differential quadrature method (DQM). The effects of different parameters such as distribution type of SWCNTs, volume fractions of SWCNTs, elastic medium and temperature gradient are discussed on the vibration and instability behavior of the sandwich structure. Results indicate that considering elastic foundation increases frequency and critical fluid velocity of system.