Influences of Different Gravity Environments on the Curing Process and Cured Products of Carbon-Nanotube-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

The influences of different gravity environments on the curing process and the cured products of carbon-nanotube-reinforced epoxy composites were investigated in this study. Different gravity environments were simulated with a superconducting magnet on the basis of which resin matrix composites with different amino-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (NH2-MWCNT) concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 wt % were tested. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermomechanical analysis (TMA), thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and three-point bending tests were used to analyze the characteristics of different curing processes and cured products. From the results, we observed that the curing rate of the epoxy composites was influenced by different gravity values, and there was anisotropy in the NH2-MWCNT-reinforced epoxy composites cured in the simulated microgravity environment. More effects of gravity on the curing process and cured products could be obtained through detailed experiments and discussion; this is important and fundamental for improving and enhancing the properties of composite materials used in different gravity environments. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.