Improved mechanical and viscoelastic properties of CNT-composites fabricated using an innovative ultrasonic dual mixing technique

Carbon nanotube (CNT) acts as the most promis-ing nanofiller due to its high aspect ratio and exceptional nanoscale-level properties. However, the dispersibility of CNTs in the conventional polymer matrices is a very criti-cal issue in developing the high-strength and light-weight polymer-based nanocomposites. In this study, an attempt was made to develop cluster-free and uniform dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the epoxy matrix using an innovative ultrasonic dual mixing tech-nique. The effect of dispersion of MWCNTs on the mechani-cal and viscoelastic properties of MWCNT-epoxy nanocom-posites was comprehensively studied. Our results reveal that the tensile strength and toughness of epoxy nanocom-posites with 0.50 wt.% of MWCNTs improved by 21% and 46%, respectively, as compared to neat epoxy. The nanocomposite samples with the same CNT loading show maximum enhancements of 22% and 26% in the lap shear strength and storage modulus, respectively. The tensile fracture surface examination of MWCNT-epoxy nanocom-posites using field emission scanning electron microscopy indicated the cluster-free and uniform dispersion of MWC-NTs in the epoxy matrix.