Buckling instabilities of octadecylamine functionalized carbon nanotubes embedded in epoxy

We demonstrate effects of nanotubes buckling and debonding in octadecylamine (ODA) derivatized single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)/epoxy nanocomposites under mechanical and thermal loads uniquely detected by means of Raman spectroscopy and documented by TEM imaging. It is shown that ODA functionalization of SWCNTs provides weak sidewall interactions between the nanotubes and epoxy matrix, which make axially compressed ODA-SWCNTs susceptible to buckling. The feasibility of ODA-SWCNTs buckling in epoxy matrix is also supported by the structural mechanics calculations.