Enhancement of tensile and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites through chemical hybridization of carbon nanotubes and alumina

This paper presents the properties of epoxy nanocomposites, prepared using a synthesized hybrid carbon nanotube-alumina (CNT-Al2O3) filler, via chemical vapour deposition and a physically mixed CNT-Al2O3 filler, at various filler loadings (i.e., 1-5%). The tensile and thermal properties of both nanocomposites were investigated at different weight percentages of filler loading. The CNT-Al2O3 hybrid epoxy composites showed higher tensile and thermal properties than the CNT-Al2O3 physically mixed epoxy composites. This increase was associated with the homogenous dispersion of CNT-Al2O3 particle filler; as observed under a field emission scanning electron microscope. It was demonstrated that the CNT-Al2O3 hybrid epoxy composites are capable of increasing tensile strength by up to 30%, giving a tensile modulus of 39%, thermal conductivity of 20%, and a glass transition temperature value of 25%, when compared to a neat epoxy composite. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.