The Optimum Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposites: Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution by Ultrasonic Treatment

The ultrasonic dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) suspensions was assessed by studying the differential sedimentation of the particles in an acid anhydride often employed as a curing agent for epoxy resins. The particle size distributions were characterized by the means of a disc cent...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tomas Roll Frømyr, Finn Knut Hansen, Torbjørn Olsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Nanotechnology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/545930
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832564632124915712
author Tomas Roll Frømyr
Finn Knut Hansen
Torbjørn Olsen
author_facet Tomas Roll Frømyr
Finn Knut Hansen
Torbjørn Olsen
author_sort Tomas Roll Frømyr
collection DOAJ
description The ultrasonic dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) suspensions was assessed by studying the differential sedimentation of the particles in an acid anhydride often employed as a curing agent for epoxy resins. The particle size distributions were characterized by the means of a disc centrifuge, and the effect of dispersion time, power density, and total energy input, for both bath and circulation probe ultrasonic dispersing equipment was investigated. The mass of freely suspended MWCNTs relative to agglomerated MWCNTs was estimated as a measure of the quality of the dispersions, and the results showed that this ratio followed a power law scaling with the energy dissipated in the sonication treatment. If the sonication power level was too high, sonochemical degradation of the curing agent could occur. The mean agglomerate MWCNT size distribution was estimated, and the fragmentation of the agglomerates was modeled by means of fragmentation theory. Indications of both rupture and erosion fragmentation processes for the MWCNT agglomerates were observed.
format Article
id doaj-art-bd241af63d314757bb1a6748c41c35c8
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-9503
1687-9511
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Nanotechnology
spelling doaj-art-bd241af63d314757bb1a6748c41c35c82025-02-03T01:10:39ZengWileyJournal of Nanotechnology1687-95031687-95112012-01-01201210.1155/2012/545930545930The Optimum Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposites: Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution by Ultrasonic TreatmentTomas Roll Frømyr0Finn Knut Hansen1Torbjørn Olsen2Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, P.O. Box 25, 2027 Kjeller, NorwayNorwegian Defence Research Establishment, P.O. Box 25, 2027 Kjeller, NorwayNorwegian Defence Research Establishment, P.O. Box 25, 2027 Kjeller, NorwayThe ultrasonic dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) suspensions was assessed by studying the differential sedimentation of the particles in an acid anhydride often employed as a curing agent for epoxy resins. The particle size distributions were characterized by the means of a disc centrifuge, and the effect of dispersion time, power density, and total energy input, for both bath and circulation probe ultrasonic dispersing equipment was investigated. The mass of freely suspended MWCNTs relative to agglomerated MWCNTs was estimated as a measure of the quality of the dispersions, and the results showed that this ratio followed a power law scaling with the energy dissipated in the sonication treatment. If the sonication power level was too high, sonochemical degradation of the curing agent could occur. The mean agglomerate MWCNT size distribution was estimated, and the fragmentation of the agglomerates was modeled by means of fragmentation theory. Indications of both rupture and erosion fragmentation processes for the MWCNT agglomerates were observed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/545930
spellingShingle Tomas Roll Frømyr
Finn Knut Hansen
Torbjørn Olsen
The Optimum Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposites: Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution by Ultrasonic Treatment
Journal of Nanotechnology
title The Optimum Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposites: Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution by Ultrasonic Treatment
title_full The Optimum Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposites: Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution by Ultrasonic Treatment
title_fullStr The Optimum Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposites: Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution by Ultrasonic Treatment
title_full_unstemmed The Optimum Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposites: Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution by Ultrasonic Treatment
title_short The Optimum Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposites: Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution by Ultrasonic Treatment
title_sort optimum dispersion of carbon nanotubes for epoxy nanocomposites evolution of the particle size distribution by ultrasonic treatment
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/545930
work_keys_str_mv AT tomasrollfrømyr theoptimumdispersionofcarbonnanotubesforepoxynanocompositesevolutionoftheparticlesizedistributionbyultrasonictreatment
AT finnknuthansen theoptimumdispersionofcarbonnanotubesforepoxynanocompositesevolutionoftheparticlesizedistributionbyultrasonictreatment
AT torbjørnolsen theoptimumdispersionofcarbonnanotubesforepoxynanocompositesevolutionoftheparticlesizedistributionbyultrasonictreatment
AT tomasrollfrømyr optimumdispersionofcarbonnanotubesforepoxynanocompositesevolutionoftheparticlesizedistributionbyultrasonictreatment
AT finnknuthansen optimumdispersionofcarbonnanotubesforepoxynanocompositesevolutionoftheparticlesizedistributionbyultrasonictreatment
AT torbjørnolsen optimumdispersionofcarbonnanotubesforepoxynanocompositesevolutionoftheparticlesizedistributionbyultrasonictreatment