Publicado 4 números por año
ISSN Imprimir: 2572-4258
ISSN En Línea: 2572-4266
Indexed in
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF MWCNT REINFORCED NANOCOMPOSITES
SINOPSIS
This research work presents the effects of environmental conditions on mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Different contents of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added as reinforcements into an isophthalic polyester (iPE) matrix. Two MWCNT contents were considered: 0.5 wt.% and 1.0 wt.%. Three environmental temperatures were applied: room temperature (25°C), dry-heating conditions (75°C), and subambient conditions (−24° C). The specimens were exposed to the different combinations of conditions for 250 h and 500 h, respectively. Material properties of nanocomposites were evaluated by the tensile test, shear test, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) test. Tensile test results showed that nanocomposites had higher Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength at room temperature compared to neat isophthalic polyester. Young's modulus, tensile strength, and shear strength of nanocomposites exposed to environmental conditions, especially the dry-heating ones, decreased significantly compared to the specimens exposed to subambient conditions. However, shear strength of nanocomposites was not very sensitive to environmental conditions regardless of the exposure time. DMA test results showed that nanocomposites had higher glass transition temperatures than neat isophthalic polyester due to the reduction of the mobility in polyester matrix around MWCNTs.