Mechanical properties and microstructure of single-wall carbon nanotube/elastomeric epoxy composites with block copolymers

• Block copolymer (BCP) was used to disperse SWNTs in an elastomeric epoxy matrix.
• We measured the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite material.
• We characterised the microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
• Dispersion and load transfer between SWNTs and matrix improved when BCP was used.
• The BCP acts as dispersing and interfacial-binding agent due to its amphiphilicity.

Single-wall carbon-nanotube (SWNT) reinforced elastomeric epoxy composites were fabricated by adding 0.03 wt% SWNTs and using 0.3 wt% block copolymer to obtain a good dispersion of carbon nanotubes in the epoxy matrix. Young׳s modulus, fracture stress and strain of the SWNT/epoxy composites with block copolymer were increased by 141%, 127% and 43%, respectively, compared to the pure epoxy resin. Scanning electron microscopy observation revealed that using the block copolymer as a dispersing agent significantly improved both SWNT dispersion in the epoxy matrix and interfacial bonding/load transfer.

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