The main objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the sonication process and of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) content on the mechanical and thermal properties of an epoxy matrix. Three different sonication powers (25, 50 and 75 W) were used to disperse the MWCNTs (0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% wt.) in the epoxy matrix. Tensile tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, while the thermal properties were determined by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the Differential Exploratory Calorimetry (DSC). Finally, a SEM analysis was used to investigate the morphology of the tensile fractured surface and the dispersion of the nanotubes in the polymeric matrix, since the quality of dispersion influences the mechanical and thermal properties of nanocomposites. It was found that the addition of carbon nanotubes to the epoxy matrix and the parameters of the sonication process affect the mechanical and thermal properties of nanocomposites. An increase of approx. 14% in tensile strength and 15% of Young’s modulus, when compared to the pure epoxy matrix was found for 75 W sonication power output and 0.6% MWCNTs weight percentage. The thermal analysis indicated that the presence of MWCNTs increased the Tonset of the nanocomposites when compared to pure epoxy resin. Finally, increasing the sonication power output leads to higher Tg of the nanocomposites studied here.

中文翻译：

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环氧多壁碳纳米复合材料的力学和热性能分析

本研究的主要目的是研究超声处理的效率和多壁碳纳米管 (MWCNT) 含量对环氧树脂基体的机械和热性能的影响。三种不同的超声处理功率（25、50 和 75 W）用于将 MWCNT（0.2%、0.4% 和 0.6% wt.）分散在环氧树脂基质中。进行拉伸试验以确定纳米复合材料的机械性能，而热性能通过热重分析 (TGA) 和差示量热法 (DSC) 确定。最后，使用 SEM 分析来研究拉伸断裂表面的形态和纳米管在聚合物基质中的分散情况，因为分散的质量会影响纳米复合材料的机械和热性能。发现将碳纳米管添加到环氧树脂基体中和超声处理的参数会影响纳米复合材料的机械和热性能。增加约。与纯环氧树脂基质相比，75 W 超声处理功率输出和 0.6% MWCNT 重量百分比的拉伸强度和杨氏模量分别为 14% 和 15%。热分析表明，与纯环氧树脂相比，MWCNT 的存在增加了纳米复合材料的 Tonset。最后，增加超声处理功率输出会导致此处研究的纳米复合材料的 Tg 更高。与纯环氧树脂基质相比，超声处理功率输出为 75 W，MWCNT 重量百分比为 0.6%。热分析表明，与纯环氧树脂相比，MWCNT 的存在增加了纳米复合材料的 Tonset。最后，增加超声处理功率输出会导致此处研究的纳米复合材料的 Tg 更高。与纯环氧树脂基质相比，超声处理功率输出为 75 W，MWCNT 重量百分比为 0.6%。热分析表明，与纯环氧树脂相比，MWCNT 的存在增加了纳米复合材料的 Tonset。最后，增加超声处理功率输出会导致此处研究的纳米复合材料的 Tg 更高。