Dielectric properties of surface treated multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy thin film composites

In this study, MWCNTs were used as a filler for epoxy thin film composites, where the thin film was fabricated using the spin coating method. We investigated the dielectric properties of the MWCNT-filled epoxy composite, with filler loading in the range from 0 to 1.5 vol%. Additionally, the effect of various type of MWCNT filler treatments using polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether (Triton X-100), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (AMPTES) on the dielectric properties of epoxy thin film composites were investigated. The results showed that the increment of MWCNT loading increased the dielectric properties of the composite system. Meanwhile, chemically treated MWCNTs, especially MWCNT treated with SDS, showed good dielectric properties. Furthermore, morphological study showed an improvement in the dispersion of filler throughout the epoxy matrix in the treated composite system compared to the untreated system. TEM images also showed that treated MWCNT filler increased wall thickness of nanotube.