IngentaConnect Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber (GCNF)/Polymer Materials. I. GCNF/Epox...

Authors: Wei-Hong Zhong; Jiang Li; Luoyu R. Xu; Jason A. Michel; Lisa M. Sullivan; Charles M. Lukehart

Source: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Volume 4, Number 7, September 2004 , pp. 794-802(9)

Publisher: American Scientific Publishers

Abstract:

Processing methods have been optimized for the formation of graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF)/epoxy nanocomposites containing GCNFs highly dispersed throughout a thermoset epoxy matrix. GCNFs having a herringbone atomic structure are surface-derivatized with bifunctional hexanediamine linker molecules (GCNF-HDA) capable of covalent binding to an epoxy matrix during thermal curing and are cut to smaller dimension using high-power ultrasonication. GCNF-HDA nanofibers are dispersed in epoxy resin at 0.3 wt.% loading using variable levels of ultrasonication processing prior to thermal curing. Effects of sonication power on the quality of the GCNF-HDA/epoxy material obtained after curing have been determined from flexural property measurements, thermomechanical analysis and SEM/TEM imaging. GCNF-HDA/epoxy material of the highest quality is obtained using low-power sonication, although high-power sonication for short periods gives improved flexural properties without lowering the glass transition temperature. Good dispersion and polymer wetting of the GCNF component is evident on the nanoscale.

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Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber (GCNF)/Polymer Materials. I. GCNF/Epoxy Monoliths Using Hexanediamine Linker Molecules