Fabrication of Carbonnanotube/Polymer Nanocomposite Sheets and Its Mechanical Performance

Abstract

Anagi M Balachandra, Nalin D Darsanasiri and Parviz Soroushian

Carbon nanocomposites have received a great deal of attention in recent years in view of their special properties such as low density, superior thermal and mechanical properties. However, poor dispersion and poor interfacial bonding limit the full utilization of carbon nanotubes as reinforcing agent in polymer nanocomposites. This paper presents an approach developed for production of polymer matrix nanocomposites with uniformly distributed multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). This approach involves preparation of a stable MWCNT in Nafion® polymer matrix followed by fabrication of MWCNT-Nafion® nanocomposite via a novel electrochemical co-deposition process (ECD). The ECD process introduced here follows the similar basic principles of traditional electrophoretic deposition. Morphology and microstructure of fabricated MWCNT-Nafion® nanocomposite sheets were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The mechanical performance of the nanocomposite was assessed by tension tests per ASTM D3039. Deposition of the MWCNT-Nafion® nanocomposite on an aluminum sheet produced significant gains in the tensile properties of the sheet. This finding confirms that uniform dispersion of MWCNT in a polymer matrix can produce nanocomposites with desired mechanical properties.

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