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 Tg was observed. An increase in the amount of nanotubes led to an increase of Tg. Samples containing functionalised nanotubes showed a stronger influence on Tg 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.