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High speed microscopy was used to allow real time visualization of the movement of nanoparticles made up of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and Fe2O3. An electrostatic force was induced to the nanotube/Fe2O3 composite and caused perfect conjugate structures which result in excellent thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties. The alignment of the carbon nanotubes in nanosuspensions may offer new opportunities for the development of nanofluids.
A series of polymer-matrix composites were synthesized by using a variety of carbon nanotubes (single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)) and a polymer matrix (either polystyrene (PS) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)). Different surfactants and polymerization methods were also used in order to generate a wide range of different composites. These different composites were all tested for thermal and electrical conductivity and characterized by SEM and TEM in order to determine the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes in the polymer matrix. Of the different types of nanotubes used, the MWCNTs had the best dispersion in the polymer matrices, and the loading of nanotubes varied from 0 to 15 wt.%, depending on the type of nanotube used. Overall, the thermal and electrical properties of the composites were improved.
This study looked at the use of two different fillers to improve the thermal properties of an epoxy resin. The two fillers were multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and aluminum nitride (AlN). Through the use of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) and a zirconate coupling agent the MWCNTs and AlN particles respectively were added to the epoxy resin. Through the use of 1 vol.% MWCNT and 25 vol.% AlN the researchers were able to obtain similar thermal properties as through the use of 50 vol.% AlN alone.
The authors observed a remarkable synergistic effect when they used multi-graphene platelets (MGPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) together in an epoxy composite. The use of these two fillers together increased the tensile strength, thermal conductivity, solubility and compatibility relative to the various individual components. The 1D nanotubes inhibit the aggregation/stacking of the platelets and thus result in high contact area between MGP/MWCNT and the polymer matrix.
Single and multi walled carbon nanotubes were prepared using the floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition method and were subsequently added to polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) to generate a composite material. The thermal properties of these composite materials were studied. The effect of acid treatment on these composite materials was also studied and was found to decrease the thermal conductivity of the materials. The addition of CNTs to the PMMA resulted in an increase in thermal conductivity up to fifteen times that of pure PMMA. Also, the effect of temperature of thermal conductivity was studied and reported.
