Enhancement of tensile and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites through chemical hybridization of carbon nanotubes and alumina

This paper presents the properties of epoxy nanocomposites, prepared using a synthesized hybrid carbon nanotube–alumina (CNT–Al2O3) filler, via chemical vapour deposition and a physically mixed CNT–Al2O3 filler, at various filler loadings (i.e., 1–5%). The tensile and thermal properties of both nanocomposites were investigated at different weight percentages of filler loading. The CNT–Al2O3 hybrid epoxy composites showed higher tensile and thermal properties than the CNT–Al2O3 physically mixed epoxy composites. This increase was associated with the homogenous dispersion of CNT–Al2O3 particle filler; as observed under a field emission scanning electron microscope. It was demonstrated that the CNT–Al2O3 hybrid epoxy composites are capable of increasing tensile strength by up to 30%, giving a tensile modulus of 39%, thermal conductivity of 20%, and a glass transition temperature value of 25%, when compared to a neat epoxy composite.