Study on structures and properties of carbon nanotubes/thermosets nanocomposites subjected to external electric field during cure stage

MWCNTs were dispersed in IPNs based on acrylate and epoxy. The influences of external electric field on the MWCNTs dispersion had been evaluated by optical microscopy and SEM. The microscopy measurements showed that the distribution of the MWCNTs depended strongly on the properties of the applied electric field. Applying ac electric field to the liquid MWCNTs/thermosets nanocomposites during curing stage could redistribute the MWCNTs, arranges them in chain-like structures and orients fibrous inclusions parallel to the applied electric field. However, dc electric field could not do so. We also presented the relationships between the microstructures and various physical properties of nanocomposites. The resulting nanocomposites displayed the interesting dielectric properties, which were significantly dependence on their special microstructures of inclusions and host matrix.