Preparation and Properties of Pyrene-Modified Multi- Walled Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Resin Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/bis-phenol A type epoxy resin were prepared and physical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. For the fine dispersion of MWCNT in the epoxy resin, MWCNT was modified with pyrene butyric acid (PBA) in the supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂). The physical adsorption of PBA on the surface of MWCNTs was studied with a thermogravimetric analyzer and a transmission electron microscopy. The electrical surface resistivities of the nanocomposites showed threshold decreases due to percolations above the critical concentration of the MWCNT. The resistivities showed maximum depending on the concentration and the modification of the surface of the MWCNT with PBA. It is postulated that the dispersion of the MWCNT in epoxy resins resulted in dispersion systems which exhibit rheological properties similar to lyotropic liquid crystalline polymers. The surface resistivities of the MWCNT/epoxy systems reflected the morphological characteristics of the systems which also determined rheological properties of the systems.