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Rheological properties and irreversible dispersion changes in carbon nanotube/epoxy systems
Author(s) -
Schulz Sonja Carolin,
Schlutter Jana,
Buschhorn Samuel T.,
Schulte Karl,
Bauhofer Wolfgang
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.22151
Subject(s) - rheology , materials science , carbon nanotube , dispersion (optics) , epoxy , composite material , suspension (topology) , shear (geology) , optics , physics , mathematics , homotopy , pure mathematics
We report on the rheological properties of semidilute carbon nanotube (CNT)/epoxy suspensions with varying filler content prepared with different dispersion methods. We show that dispersion techniques can be distinguished by means of the rheological response. It was found that the suspensions undergo a lasting dispersion changes during the first shear sweep measurement. Shear‐induced changes within the suspension can also be visualized optically. Our results demonstrate that the rheological properties are strongly influenced by the measurement procedure, which has to be known in order to guarantee reproducible and comparable results. Finally, it does not seem possible to completely reset the sample history by shear treatment. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. ©2011 Society of Plastics Engineers