Highly curable epoxy/MWCNTs nanocomposites: An effective approach to functionalization of carbon nanotubes

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Mohammad Reza Saeb - , Ministry of Science, Research and Technology Islamic Republic of Iran, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Farhood Najafi - , Ministry of Science, Research and Technology Islamic Republic of Iran (Author)
  • Ehsan Bakhshandeh - , Ministry of Science, Research and Technology Islamic Republic of Iran (Author)
  • Hossein Ali Khonakdar - , Chair of Biomaterials, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Mehdi Mostafaiyan - , Institute of Materials Science, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Frank Simon - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Christina Scheffler - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Edith Mäder - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

This investigation suggests an effective route to functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by which epoxy nanocomposites with very high potential to cure are successfully prepared. The proposed modification ends in covalent attachment of primary (NH2) and secondary (NH) functional groups onto MWCNTs capable of facilitating cure mechanism. The modification process has been carried out via free radical polymerization of maleic anhydride derivative by which NH and NH2 reactive groups were introduced onto the surface of MWCNTs. Raman spectroscopy (RS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to appropriately study surface characteristics of modified MWCNTs. The degree of disorderness and elemental composition onto the MWCNTs were quantitatively determined utilizing RS and XPS by tracking peak areas and sensitivity factors reflecting changes in binding energy, height, and width of corresponding peaks of pristine and functionalized MWCNTs. The cure characteristics of epoxy nanocomposites containing unmodified and amino functionalized MWCNTs were ultimately examined by non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry to visualize the potential of the developed epoxy nanocomposites to cure.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)117-125
Number of pages9
JournalChemical engineering journal
Volume259
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • Amine functionalization, Carbon nanotubes, Cure kinetics, Elemental surface analysis, Epoxy