Carbon nanotubes are theoretically one of the strongest and stiffest materials with a calculated tensile strength of ~200 giga Pascal and modulus of more than 1-4 tera Pascal for a single walled nanotube (SWNT). If the mechanical properties of SWNT could be effectively incorporated into a polymer matrix, composites with lightweight, exceptional strength and stiffness can be achieved. The effective utilization of nanotubes in composites for applications depends on the ability to disperse the nanotubes uniformly throughout the matrix. Carbon nanotubes are anisotropic in nature. Therefore to take advantage of the nanotubes in the axial direction, controlled tube orientation or degree of alignment of nanotubes in the polymer matrix is very important to realize their high mechanical and functional properties. The nanocomposites produced by current conventional methods using direct mixing, melt blending or solution casting have failed to yield significant improvements in composite modulus. Although tremendous progress has been made towards understanding the properties of individual carbon nanotubes, but attaining the true potential of the bulk polymeric nanocomposites have been hindered by the lack of uniform SWNT dispersion, poor interfacial bonding, inadequate tube loading and uncontrollable tube orientation or degree of alignment. This thesis work developed an innovative approach for producing nanocomposites that has uniform SWNT dispersion, high tube loading and most importantly controlled tube orientation. In this research, these properties in composites were achieved by using magnetically aligned buckypapers and resin infusion system. The aligned nanotube buckypaper and composite were characterized using AFM and SEM. The mechanical properties of these materials were experimentally determined using DMA and were theoretically verified. The electrical properties of these materials were also experimentally determined using 4-probe resistivity measurements. Significant tube alignment has been achieved in the resultant buckypaper and nanocomposites. It is shown that the developed method is an effective way for producing nanocomposites with uniform SWNT dispersion desired tube alignment and high tube loading. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Industrial Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Fall Semester, 2003. / November 10, 2003. / Carbon, Nanotubes, SWNT Alignment, Composite, Polymer, Anisotropy, Resistivity, Nanocomposite / Includes bibliographical references. / Zhiyong Liang, Professor Directing Thesis; Ben Wang, Committee Member; Chuck Zhang, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_181706 |
| Contributors | Shankar, Kadambala Ravi (authoraut), Liang, Zhiyong (professor directing thesis), Wang, Ben (committee member), Zhang, Chuck (committee member), Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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