Microwave curing of carbon nanotube/epoxy adhesives

In this paper we have shown that using microwave to cure epoxy adhesive containing multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) not only leads to large time and energy savings, but also results in much higher strength. The well-dispersed MWNTs in the epoxy resin absorb microwave energy, acting as heat sources to cure the epoxy resin uniformly and effectively. Microwave curing can diminish the deterioration effect of lowering cross-link reaction by MWNTs as observed in conventional heating. Thus, as much as three times addition of MWNTs in the epoxy is allowed for optimum strength. As a result, 56% increase of the shear strength was observed when the epoxy adhesive doped with 3 wt% MWNTs was cured by microwave heating.