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Effects of mineral fillers addition and preparation method on the morphology and electrical conductivity of epoxy/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Tokobaro Paulo Eduardo Asito,
Larocca Nelson Marcos,
Backes Eduardo Henrique,
Pessan Luiz Antonio
Publication year - 2021
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.25598
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , agglomerate , epoxy , carbon nanotube , composite material , filler (materials) , conductivity , montmorillonite , electrical resistivity and conductivity , sepiolite , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , engineering , chemistry , raw material
This study investigated the correlation between the electrical conductivity and the micro and nanomorphology of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/epoxy nanocomposites with and without the inorganic fillers montmorillonite (MMT), sepiolite and calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). The nanocomposites were prepared by dispersing the MWCNT and fillers through ultrasonication directly in the resin or solvent. For nanocomposites without fillers, the compositions prepared with solvent demonstrated higher electrical conductivities, which correlate with a microscale morphology formed by networks of highly interconnected MWCNT agglomerates. The addition of MMT induced a deleterious effect on the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites since this filler hinders the formation of MWCNT agglomerate networks. The effect of sepiolite on electrical conductivity is also negative, but in this case, nonmorphological effects are likely of greater importance. The addition of CaCO 3 improved the electrical conductivity of the binary nanocomposites under specific conditions. For this filler, a synergic effect was achieved for the composition prepared with solvent, which resulted in an approximately sixfold increase in electrical conductivity relative to the nanocomposite without filler.