Mechanical and thermal properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube added alumina/epoxy nanocomposites
Sezer Picak Ahmet AKDEMİR Ahmet Avcı Yusuf Usta
AbstractThe current study focus on the investigation of mechanical and thermal properties of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) added alumina/epoxy nanocomposites. Alumina fiber reinforced nanocomposites, which were made of 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7% and 1% per weight MWCNTs of epoxy resin, are produced by using Vacuum Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) method. Tensile tests, bending tests, volume fraction tests and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were performed in order to determine mechanical properties of MWCNT added alumina/epoxy nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal conductivity tests were performed to determine thermal properties of MWCNT added alumina/epoxy nanocomposites. Mechanical properties of nanocomposites produced by adding MWCNT were investigated; young’s modulus, tensile strength and bending strength of nanocomposites were improved. Tg temperature, gel time and coefficient of thermal conductivity were determined. Also, the effect of MWCNTs was analyzed on the fracture surface of composites through optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results promised a new composite materials that is comparable to conventional composite materials.