Characteristics and Properties of Epoxy/Polysulfide Composite Materials Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

In this research, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used to enforce the blend of epoxy /polysulfide and then tensile and wear behavior of this reinforcement were evaluated. For achieving this goal, different weight percentages of MWCNT (0.2–0.6 wt %) were dispersed in the epoxy resin then polysulfide resin is added and mixed with two curing agents. Experimental results have shown significant difference between epoxy/polysulfide and CNT /epoxy /polysulfide in mechanical properties. With 0.2–0.6% MWCNTs we observed an increase in Young’s modulus from 245 to273 MPa, tensile strength from 30.5 to 38.9 MPa and fracture strain from 12.4% to 14.2%. For understanding the structure and morphology of nanocomposite, the dispersion states were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission electron microscopy (FESEM).