A methodology to orient carbon nanotubes in a thermosetting matrix

The proof of concept is demonstrated by producing electrospunpolymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) fibres filled with single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in the form of unidirectional tape, which are then solubilised into a vinylester (VE) matrix. The PMMA is easily dissolved by the styrene present in the VE resin, leaving SWCNTs aligned in the cured VE network, as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy studies. A 50% increase in elastic modulus (SWCNT 1.3 wt.%) has been obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis carried out in tensile mode at 1 Hz. Thanks to its ability to orient carbon nanotubes in a thermosetting matrix, the proposed method can be exploited also to transfer oriented nanofillers into continuous fibre composites, thus obtaining multiscale or hierarchical composites.