Narh K.A.
New Jersey Institute of Technology, US
Keywords: carbon nanotubes, dry coating, nanocomposites, polymer
The combination of high aspect ratio, small size, very low density, and more importantly, excellent physical properties, such as extremely high mechanical strength and stiffness, high electrical and thermal conductivity, make carbon nanotubes (CNTs) perfect candidates as ideal reinforcing fillers in high strength, lightweight polymer nanocomposites with high performance and multi-functions. These excellent physical properties of carbon nanotubes were exploited, by reinforcing linear low density polyethylene with various concentrations of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), using a magnetic impact coating (MAIC) device. The efficiency of using the dry coating process to produce polymer/CNT nanocomposites with improved mechanical and thermal properties evaluated. A Linear Low density Polyethylene (LLDPE) in a powder form was used as the matrix material. The polymer powder was mixed with 0.25wt%, 0.5wt% and 1wt% of MWCNTs by the simultaneous deagglomerating and coating actions of the magnetic impact coating device; the influence of the nanotube concentration and coating time on the mechanical properties and homogeneity of the nanocomposites were evaluated. The mechanical properties were determined in tension, and the morphology and homogeneity of the mixture were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significant increases in elastic moduli and strengths were observed with respect to the unfilled matrix material.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Nanotechnology 2014: Graphene, CNTs, Particles, Films & Composites
Published: June 15, 2014
Pages: 365 - 368
Industry sector: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Topics: Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications, Composite Materials
ISBN: 978-1-4822-5826-4