TY - JOUR
T1 - Correlation between interfacial molecular structure and mechanics in CNT/epoxy nano-composites
AU - Lachman, Noa
AU - Daniel Wagner, H.
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge support from the NOESIS European project on “Aerospace Nanotube Hybrid Composite Structures with Sensing and Actuating Capabilities”, and the G.M.J. Schmidt Minerva Centre of Supramolecular Architectures. The electron microscopy studies were conducted at the Irving and Cherna Moskowitz Center for Nano and Bio-Nano Imaging at the Weizmann Institute of Science. This research was made possible in part by the generosity of the Harold Perlman family. The skillfull assistance of Ayelet Vilan and Hagai Cohen with XPS measurements is gratefully acknowledged. We thank one of the reviewers for suggesting the possible effect of polymer cross-link on fracture toughness which led to additional data presented in Fig. 6 . H.D. Wagner is the recipient of the Livio Norzi Professorial Chair.
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - We study the effect of the molecular nature of the interface between an epoxy matrix and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical properties of the resultant nano-composites, with emphasis on toughness. A number of samples based on variously functionalized CNTs, namely, pristine, carboxylated, and aminated CNTs are examined, with different qualities of dispersion. Nano-composite toughness is found to increase with enhanced interfacial adhesion, an effect that is opposite to what is usually observed in traditional fiber-based composites. The classical pull-out energy model is shown to effectively explain this result. It is thus possible to tune the toughness of a nano-composite by adjusting the molecular nature of its interface and the CNT characteristics, namely its strength and its length relative to its critical length.
AB - We study the effect of the molecular nature of the interface between an epoxy matrix and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical properties of the resultant nano-composites, with emphasis on toughness. A number of samples based on variously functionalized CNTs, namely, pristine, carboxylated, and aminated CNTs are examined, with different qualities of dispersion. Nano-composite toughness is found to increase with enhanced interfacial adhesion, an effect that is opposite to what is usually observed in traditional fiber-based composites. The classical pull-out energy model is shown to effectively explain this result. It is thus possible to tune the toughness of a nano-composite by adjusting the molecular nature of its interface and the CNT characteristics, namely its strength and its length relative to its critical length.
KW - A. Nano-structures
KW - B. Fracture toughness
KW - B. Interface/interphase
KW - C. Micro-mechanics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955420058&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2009.08.023
DO - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2009.08.023
M3 - מאמר
AN - SCOPUS:77955420058
VL - 41
SP - 1093
EP - 1098
JO - Composites - Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
JF - Composites - Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
SN - 1359-835X
IS - 9
ER -