title: Graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF)/polymer materials. I. GCNF/epoxy monoliths using hexanediamine linker molecules.
abstract: Processing methods have been optimized for the formation of graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF)/epoxy nanocomposites containing GCNFs highly dispersed throughout a thermoset epoxy matrix. GCNFs having a herringbone atomic structure are surface-derivatized with bifunctional hexanediamine linker molecules (GCNF-HDA) capable of covalent binding to an epoxy matrix during thermal curing and are cut to smaller dimension using high-power ultrasonication. GCNF-HDA nanofibers are dispersed in epoxy resin at 0.3 wt.% loading using variable levels of ultrasonication processing prior to thermal curing. Effects of sonication power on the quality of the GCNF-HDA/epoxy material obtained after curing have been determined from flexural property measurements, thermomechanical analysis and SEM/TEM imaging. GCNF-HDA/epoxy material of the highest quality is obtained using low-power sonication, although high-power sonication for short periods gives improved flexural properties without lowering the glass transition temperature. Good dispersion and polymer wetting of the GCNF component is evident on the nanoscale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA.
authors.forename: Wei-Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Luoyu R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lukehart
mesh_terms: D003959:Diamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D005898:Glass; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013010:Sonication; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003959:Diamines; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers; D006108:Graphite; C007297:1,6-diaminohexane