Properties of CNTs/Calcium Carbonate filled polymer composites

Abstract

In the present work, the properties of the synthesized hybrid carbon nanotube-calcium carbonate (CNTs-CaCO3), prepared via chemical vapor deposition and a physically mixed CNTs-CaCO3 filled epoxy composites, at various filler loading (i.e., 1-5) were studied. Morphological characterization of CNTs-CaCO3 via CVD hybrid and physical mix was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Tensile test and hardness test of both epoxy composites at different filler loading were conducted to study the effect of carbon nanotubes dispersion on the properties of the epoxy composites. The CNTs-CaCO3 CVD hybrid composites showed higher tensile strength than the CNTs-CaCO3 physical mix composites. The morphological studies of fracture surfaces after tensile test by means of SEM showed homogenous dispersion of CNTs-calcium carbonate CVD hybrid in epoxy matrix. It was demonstrated that the CNTs-calcium carbonate CVD hybrid composites are capable in increasing tensile strength by up to 116.4%, giving a tensile modulus of 40.3%, and hardness value of 39.2% as compared to a neat epoxy.