cm062277p_si_001.pdf (6.37 MB)
Functionalizing Carbon Nanotubes by Plasma Modification for the Preparation of Covalent-Integrated Epoxy Composites
journal contribution
posted on 2007-01-23, 00:00 authored by Chun-Hao Tseng, Cheng-Chien Wang, Chuh-Yung ChenA novel method for preparing a fully integrated nanotube composite material through the use of
functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is presented in this study. The functionalization
of MWNTs was performed via plasma treatment; subsequently, maleic anhydride (MA) was grafted
onto the MWNTs (CNTs-MA). Nanotube-reinforced epoxy polymer composites were prepared by first
mixing the CNTs-MA and a diamine curing agent, followed by a further reaction with the epoxy matrix.
In this hybrid nanocomposite system, the CNTs-MA were covalently integrated into the epoxy matrix
and became part of the cross-linked structure rather than just a separate component. Fourier transform
infrared (FT-IR) and high resolution X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopes were used to characterize
the functional groups on the surface of the MWNTs after the plasma modification. In addition, observations
of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed
that the functionalized nanotubes, CNTs-MA, had a better dispersion than the unfunctionalized nanotubes,
u-CNTs, on either the composite fracture surfaces or inside the epoxy matrix. Moreover, CNTs-MA/epoxy nanocomposites presented obvious improvements in mechanical properties and conductivity (from
10-12 to 10-4 S/m) with only a small quantity (0.1−1.0 wt %) of the CNTs-MA addition.