Core-shell structured carbon nanotube-poly(methylmethacrylate) beads as thermo-conductive filler in epoxy composites. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vu, Minh Canh; Bae, Young Han; Yu, Min Ji; Islam, Md. Akhtarul; Kim, Sung-Ryong
• Is Part Of: Composites. Volume 109(2018)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: A. Carbon nanotubes -- A. Nanocomposites -- A. Core-shell structure -- B. Thermal conductivity; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Manufacturing processes; Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2018.02.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-835X

Abstract

Abstract: A facile and novel method has been developed for the preparation of highly thermo-conductive epoxy-based composites. The core-shell structure is formed with 'functionalized carbon nanotubes (sCNTs)' as shell encapsulated on the plasma-treated poly(methylmethacrylate) (pPMMA) as core. Effective thermo-conductive pathways are realized through core-shell structured bead-bead conduction throughout the composites. The core and shell have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared analysis and zeta potential measurement. The core-shell arrangement has visualized by scanning electron microscopy, which supported the expectation that the shell being positively charged would be assembled on the negatively charged core forming a highly conductive outer surface of the non-conductive core. The thermal conductivity of the epoxy composites increased from 0.19 W m −1 K −1 of neat epoxy to 0.96 W m −1 K −1 at 1 wt% of sCNTs in sCNT@pPMMA beads. The method developed in this work introduces a new approach of using non-conductive polymer beads as constituting element in conductive framework formation.