Enhancement in mechanical properties and conductivity of modified epoxy resin composites

Abstract

Nanosilver and nanonickel were first loaded on the surfaces of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by liquid-phase reduction method and the multiwalled carbon nanotubes/nanosilver-nickel (MWCNTs/Ag-Ni) composites were formed. The MWCNTs/Ag-Ni were homogeneously dispersed in the epoxy resin (EP), which can form epoxy resin/multiwalled carbon nanotubes/nanosilver-nickel (EP/MWCNTs/Ag-Ni) composites. The results based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy show the chemical bonds in the MWCNTs/Ag-Ni. By the scanning electron microscope method, it can be concluded that the enhancement in mechanical properties is due to the strong interaction between MWCNTs and the EP matrix. It is proved that through the comparative tests, the addition of nanosliver-nickel rigid particles can enhance the interaction between MWCNTs and the EP matrix, which can improve the mechanical properties of modified EP. Compared with the pure EP, the tensile strength and impact strength of nanocomposites improve around 81% and 139% by adding 1.3 wt% MWCNTs/Ag-Ni. In addition, the experimental results based on dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) show that the glass transition temperature of modified EP (1.3 wt% MWCNTs/Ag-Ni in EP matrix) is significantly increased by about 18.6°C. Compared with the pure EP, the conductivity of modified EP (1.3 wt% MWCNTs/Ag-Ni in EP matrix) is also increased by around 63%. Because of the excellent mechanical properties and conductivity of EP/MWCNTs/Ag-Ni nanocomposites, the development of high-performance polymer materials will be greatly achieved.