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Role of nitrogen–oxygen plasma functionalization of carbon nanotubes in epoxy nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Steffen Teresa Tromm,
Fontana Luis César,
Nahorny Jacimar,
Becker Daniela
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.24921
Subject(s) - surface modification , materials science , carbon nanotube , nanocomposite , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , raman spectroscopy , epoxy , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , transmission electron microscopy , nitrogen , carbon fibers , chemical engineering , scanning electron microscope , composite material , oxygen , nanotechnology , composite number , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , engineering , optics
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalization was carried out with radio frequency plasma in different working gas Ar/O 2 and Ar/O 2 /N 2 at different plasma powers to synthesize epoxy nanocomposites. After the CNT's had been treated, the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed an additional peak at 1,740 cm −1 , attributed to carboxylic groups, corroborating the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy that shows attachment of oxygen groups, which indicates CNTs' functionalization. Raman shows an increase in the I D /I G ratio, attributed to an increased number of defects, in agreement with transmission electron microscope images that show a nanocoating on CNTs' surfaces. Functionalization carried out with low power plasma makes also some C‐N bonds possible, preserving the aromatic carbons of the CNTs' structure. Nanocomposites showed better dispersion and distribution for samples with CNTs treated by Ar/O 2 /N 2 plasma. Furthermore, there was a decrease in T g when compared with neat epoxy, especially for samples with more nitrogen atoms attached to the CNTs. Mechanical properties presented an improvement, which is specially related to a better phase interaction led by the nitrogen presence on the CNTs' surface. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1162–E1171, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers