Single-walled nanotube bucky paper and nanocomposite

A new processing method for the fabrication of single-walled nanotube (SWNT) -reinforced nanocomposites was developed to achieve uniform dispersion and high composition of the nanotubes in the nanocomposites. In this method, SWNTs were preformed as bucky paper by multi-step dispersion and microfiltration of a suspension of nanotubes. The nanocomposites were then fabricated by infiltration of diluted epoxy resin through the bucky paper and hot pressing. The wetting of the nanocomposites was examined using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The results showed that the epoxy resin completely penetrated the bucky paper through the nanoporous structures. The results of dynamic mechanical analysis of the nanocomposites showed that the storage moduli of the nanocomposites increased by 200-250%. The tan delta curves indicated that the nanotubes had a strong influence on the damping properties of the nanocomposites. This processing technique is an effective method for fabricating nanocomposites with uniform dispersion and high composition of SWNTs. (C) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.