High thermal conductive m‐xylylenediamine functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes/epoxy resin composites

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) functionalized by m‐xylylenediamine is used as thermal conductive fillers to improve their dispersibility in epoxy resin and the thermal conductivity of the MWNTs/bisphenol‐A glycidol ether epoxy resin composites. Functionalization with amine groups of MWNTs is achieved after such steps as carboxylation, acylation and amidation. The thermal conductivity, impact strength, flexural strength, and fracture surfaces of MWNTs/epoxy composites are investigated with different MWNTs. The results show that m‐xylylenediamine is successfully grafted onto the surface of the MWNTs and the mass fraction of the organic molecules grafted onto MWNTs is about 20 wt %. The thermal conductivity of MWNTs/epoxy composites is further enhanced to 1.236 W/mK with 2 wt % m‐MWNTs. When the content of m‐MWNTs is 1.5 wt %, the impact strength and flexural strength of the composites are 25.85 KJ/m 2 , 128.1 MPa, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results show that the fracture pattern of composites is changed from brittle fracture to ductile fracture. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 41255.