Reinforcement of Aminopropyl-Terminated Siloxane-Treated Carbon Nanotubes in Epoxy Thermosets: Mechanical and Thermal Properties

The synthesis and characterization of aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane- treated carbon nanotube (AFCNT)-reinforced epoxy nanocomposites are reported in the current study. The amine functionalization of the CNTs was performed with a reaction to PDMS-NH2. The AFCNTs were homogeneously dispersed in epoxy resin by using an emulsifier and a three-roller mill. The AFCNTs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The curing behavior of the epoxy/AFCNT was studied using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The tensile and impact strengths of the 2.0 wt.% AFCNT-reinforced epoxy nanocomposite were enhanced by 43.2% and 370%, respectively. Moreover, the glass transition temperature (Tg) was also enhanced by 21 °C. Furthermore, significant enhancements were observed in the initial degradation and char yield values. SEM results confirmed that the AFCNTs were highly dispersed in the polymeric matrix.Keywords:amine functionalization;carbon nanotubes;nanocomposites;mechanical properties