Print Email Facebook Twitter Synergistic toughening and electrical functionalization of an epoxy using MWCNTs and silane- /plasma-activated basalt fibers Title Synergistic toughening and electrical functionalization of an epoxy using MWCNTs and silane- /plasma-activated basalt fibers Author Quan, D. (TU Delft Structural Integrity & Composites) Moloney, Peter (University College Dublin) Carolan, Declan (Imperial College London; FAC Technology) Abourayana, Hisham (University College Dublin) Ralph, Calvin (Ulster University) Ivankovic, Alojz (University College Dublin) Dowling, Denis (University College Dublin) Murphy, Neal (University College Dublin) Date 2021 Abstract This work studied the effects of adding short basalt fibers (BFs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), both separately and in combination, on the mechanical properties, fracture toughness, and electrical conductivity of an epoxy polymer. The surfaces of the short BFs were either treated using a silane coupling agent or further functionalized by atmospheric plasma to enhance the adhesion between the BFs and the epoxy. The results of a single fiber fragmentation test demonstrated a significantly improved BF/epoxy adhesion upon applying the plasma treatment to the BFs. This resulted in better mechanical properties and fracture toughness of the composites containing the plasma-activated BFs. The improved BF/epoxy adhesion also affected the hybrid toughening performance of the BFs and MWCNTs. In particular, synergistic toughening effects were observed when the plasma-activated BFs/MWCNTs hybrid modifiers were used, while only additive toughening effects occurred for the silane-sized BFs/MWCNTs hybrid modifiers. This work demonstrated a potential to develop strong, tough, and electrically conductive epoxy composites by adding hybrid BF/MWCNT modifiers. Subject applicationsconducting polymersgraphene and fullerenesmechanical propertiesmicroscopynanotubes To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:6d5f9d17-a586-4026-af07-33d9a1d5fad3 DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/app.49605 Embargo date 2021-07-01 ISSN 0021-8995 Source Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 138 (1) Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2021 D. Quan, Peter Moloney, Declan Carolan, Hisham Abourayana, Calvin Ralph, Alojz Ivankovic, Denis Dowling, Neal Murphy Files PDF Synergistic_toughening_an ... fibres.pdf 1.7 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:6d5f9d17-a586-4026-af07-33d9a1d5fad3/datastream/OBJ/view