Functionalisation effect on the thermo-mechanical behaviour of multi-wall carbon nanotube/epoxy-composites

Functionalisation of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) influences the thermo-mechanical properties of MWCNT/epoxy-composites. Samples based on epoxy resin and different weight percentage of MWCNTs (functionalised and non-functionalised) were prepared. The investigation of the thermo-mechanical behaviour was performed by dynamic-mechanic thermal analysis (DMTA). A dependence of the nanotube content on the glass transition temperature T g was observed. An increase in the amount of nanotubes led to an increase of T g. Samples containing functionalised nanotubes showed a stronger influence on T g in comparison to composites containing the same amount of non-functionalised nanotubes. These results prove the influence of a functionalisation of carbon nanotubes on the interfacial interaction between the polymer and CNT.