STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF INTERFACE AND ITS EFFECT ON PROPERTIES OF MICROINJECTION

MOULDING NANOCOMPOSITES WITH FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON NANOTUBES

University of Minho Author* TÂNIA FERREIRA

School of Engineering
Department of Polymer Engineering Supervisors: António Pontes, Co-Supervisor : Conceição Paiva
* ex1931@dep.uminho.pt

SUMMARY 3 – Composite characterization •SEM analysis of CNT/PA 6 interface:

•
• 1,5 wt% CNT 4,5 wt% CNT
Nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes (CNT) have potential The ratio skin/core, nanotube agglomerate size, distribution and •
•
for application in a wide range of areas. dispersion were measured using optical microscopy (OM) and the

Functionalized Non- functionalized

•
The production of homogeneous composites with good properties CNT/polymer interface was observed by scanning electron •
•
is limited by the difficulty in dispersing the entangled CNT in the microscope. The electrical resistivity of the composites was •
polymer matrix. The surface functionalization of the CNT may measured. The tensile specimens were tested using a microtester •
•
considerably help dispersion and interfacial bonding with different equipped with a load cell of 1 KN. •
materials. In the present work the CNT were chemically modified. •
•
An effective process for the production of nanocomposites with •
•
CNT with low reinforcement content is microinjection moulding RESULTS •
(μIM), a cost-effective process for large-scale production. •
The present work reports the dispersion, distribution and interface •Electrical and mechanical properties of micro-injection
•Optical microscopy analysis of CNT agglomerates
of CNT in polyamide 6 in nanocomposites produced using µ IM. moulded specimens:
CNT The resistivity of all samples was mesured on the impact specimens
samples Non-functionalized Functionalized and the tensile modulus was mesured on tensile specimens.
(wt%)
EXPERIMENTAL WORK

1 – Functionalization 1.5 %effective content of CNT

1,0E+00
4.5 1,0E-010,00% 2,00% 4,00% 6,00%
CNT (Nanocyl NC 7000) were functionalized using the 1,3-dipolar 1,0E-02
cycloaddition reaction of an azomethine yilide to the CNT, 1,0E-03

generating pyrrolidine groups at the surface (Araújo et al, 2007), 1,0E-04

1,0E-05
under solvent-free conditions, at 250ºC.

m
PA +pure CNT

(S
/c
) y C
d
g
u
n
o
tiv
L
1,0E-06
PA +functionalized CNT

2 – Compounding PA 6 with CNT

Average ratio skin/core (2xskin/thickness)
The nanocomposites with polyamide 6 (Badamid®B70) were
prepared in a prototype mini-twin screw extruder. The samples were CNT 1,5 % 3,0 % 4,5 % CONCLUSION
prepared with 1.5, 3 and 4,5% of pure and functionalized CNT.
Micro injection moulded specimens (Fig. 1b) were obtained on a • Non- 0,50 0,01 0,47 0,05 0,52 0,03 § The ratio skin/core was smaller for the composites with
Boy12 equipment (Fig. 1a), according to the conditions: • functionalized functionalized CNT (FCNT); this may be due to the better CNT
 Injection speed– 200 mm/s  Injection pressure – 80  10 bar • dispersion observed and thus better thermal conductivity of the
 Mould temperature- 110ºC  Injection time – 0,10  0,02 s • Functionalized 0,46 0,02 0,36 0,01 0,41 0,01 FCNT composite;
§ § Composites with pure CNT presented a smaller number of
Statistical study of longitudinal section of tensile specimens agglomerates compared to FCNT, but the agglomerates were much
larger than those formed on the FCNT composites.
a b Samples Number of Average area/ § The functionalization of the CNT lead to the improvement of the
agglomerates agglomerate (µm2) CNT/polymer interface, as observed by SEM;
§ The PA 6 nanocomposites prepared were semiconductors; CNT
functionalization did not significantly affect the composites electrical
Non- 1,5% 16449 2028232 conductivity.
functionalized § Samples with FCNT presented higher tensile modulus.
3,0% 10011 3084305
Figure 1 – a) – Boy 12 equipment; b) – tensile and impact specimens Functionalized 1,5% 23373 1375600
References
R. Araújo, M. C. Paiva, M. F. Proença, C. J. R. Silva., Composites Science and Technology 67 (2007) 806-810.
3,0% 2591 658351 Acknowledgements
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) - POCI/QUI/59835/2004 and a PhD grant awarded to T. Ferreira
(SFRH/BD/39119/2007).

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