High-Speed Surfactant-Free Fabrication of Large Carbon Nanotube Membranes for Multifunctional Composites
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 3
Abstract
A high-speed manufacturing process for multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) buckypaper is presented, and its application as an embedded strain sensor for composite materials is demonstrated. This manufacturing method enables the production of sizable carbon nanotube (CNT) membranes with significantly reduced processing time and less manufacturing complexity than other contemporary techniques. The use of surfactants and chemical functionalization of MWNTs was completely avoided in this method because functionality of carbon nanotubes can be hampered by such surface treatments. Microstructure, mechanical properties, and piezoresistive response of the fabricated buckypaper were characterized, and its sensitivity as a strain sensor was analyzed. Stable piezoresistive response could be achieved at low strains, and a high sensitivity to strain was observed when buckypaper was embedded in glass fiber epoxy laminates for strain sensing.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of this research by the Office of Naval Research (ONR; Grant N00014-14-1-0068) and program manager Mr. William Nickerson.
References
ARAMIS. (2012). User’s manual for 3-D image photogrammetry, GOM mbH, Mittelweg, Braunschweig, Germany.
Ashrafi, B., Guan, J., Mirjalili, V., Hubert, P., Simard, B., and Johnston, A. (2010). “Correlation between Young’s modulus and impregnation quality of epoxy-impregnated SWCNT buckypaper.” Composites, Part A, 41(9), 1184–1191.
Bautista-Quijano, J. R., Avilés, F., Aguilar, J. O., and Tapia, A. (2010). “Strain sensing capabilities of a piezoresistive MWCNT-polysulfone film.” Sens. Actuators, A, 159(2), 135–140.
Benlikaya, R., Slobodian, P., and Riha, P. (2013). “Enhanced strain-dependent electrical resistance of polyurethane composites with embedded oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotube networks.” J. Nanomat., 2013(2013), 327597.
Chen, X., et al. (2008). “Mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes.” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 492(1–2), 236–242.
Cheng, Q., Bao, J., Park, J., Liang, Z., Zhang, C., and Wang, B. (2009). “High mechanical performance composite conductor: Multi-walled carbon nanotube sheet/bismaleimide nanocomposites.” Adv. Funct. Mater., 19(20), 3219–3225.
Chu, H., Zhang, Z., Liu, Y., and Leng, J. (2014). “Self-heating fiber reinforced polymer composite using meso/macropore carbon nanotube paper and its application in deicing.” Carbon, 66, 154–163.
Cooper, S. M., Chuang, H. F., Cinke, M., Cruden, B. A., and Meyyappan, M. (2003). “Gas permeability of a buckypaper membrane.” Nano Lett., 3(2), 189–192.
Dharap, P., Li, Z., Nagarajaiah, S., and Barrera, E. V. (2004). “Nanotube film based on single-wall carbon nanotubes for strain sensing.” Nanotechnology, 15(3), 379–382.
Dieze-Pascual, A. M., Guan, J., Simard, B., and Gomez-Fatou, M. A. (2012). “Poly(phenylene sulphide) and poly(ether ether ketone) composites reinforced with single-walled carbon nanotube buckypaper: II–Mechanical properties, electrical and thermal conductivity.” Composites, Part A, 43(6), 1007–1015.
Dumée, L. F., et al. (2010). “Characterization and evaluation of carbon nanotube Bucky-Paper membranes for direct contact membrane distillation.” J. Membr. Sci., 351(1–2), 36–43.
Fu, X., Zhang, C., Liu, T., Liang, R., and Wang, B. (2010). “Carbon nanotube buckypaper to improve fire retardancy of high-temperature/high-performance polymer composites.” Nanotechnology, 21(23), 235701.
Iijima, S. (1991). “Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon.” Nature, 354(6348), 56–58.
Islam, M. F., Rojas, E., Bergey, D. M., Johnson, A. T., and Yodh, A. G. (2003). “High weight fraction surfactant solubilization of single-wall carbon nanotubes in water.” Nano Lett., 3(2), 269–273.
Kang, I., Schulz, M. J., Kim, J. H., Shanov, V., and Shi, D. (2006). “A carbon nanotube strain sensor for structural health monitoring.” Smart Mater. Struct., 15(3), 737–748.
Lin, C. (2005). “Investigation and characterization of SWNT buckypaper manufacturing process.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL.
Liu, Q., Li, M., Wang, Z., Gu, Y., Li, Y., and Zhang, Z. (2013). “Improvement on the tensile performance of buckypaper using a novel dispersant and functionalized carbon nanotubes.” Composites, Part A, 55, 102–109.
Lopes, P. E., et al. (2010). “High CNT content composites with CNT Buckypaper and epoxy resin matrix: Impregnation behaviour composite production and characterization.” Compos. Struct., 92(6), 1291–1298.
Meng, C., Liu, C., and Fan, S. (2008). “Flexible carbon nanotube/polyaniline paper-like films and their enhanced electrochemical properties.” Electrochem. Comm., 11(1), 186–189.
Moerman, K., Holt, C., Evans, S., and Simms, C. (2009). “Digital image correlation and finite element modelling as a method to determine mechanical properties of human soft tissue in vivo.” J. Biomech., 42(8), 1150–1153.
Oliva-Aviles, A. I., Aviles, F., and Sosa, V. (2011). “Electrical and piezoresistive properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/polymer composite films aligned by an electric field.” Carbon, 49(9), 2989–2997.
Ounnunkad, S., et al. (2011). “Comparison of the electrochemical behaviour of buckypaper and polymer-intercalated buckypaper electrodes.” J. Electroanal. Chem., 652(1–2), 52–59.
Park, J. G., et al. (2009). “Electromagnetic interference shielding properties of carbon nanotube buckypaper composites.” Nanotechnology, 20(41), 415702.
Pham, G. T., et al. (2008). “Mechanical and electrical properties of polycarbonate nanotube buckypaper composite sheets.” Nanotechnology, 19(32), 325705–325708.
Rein, M. D., Breuer, O., and Wagner, H. D. (2011). “Sensors and sensitivity: Carbon nanotube buckypaper films as strain sensing devices.” Comput. Sci. Tech., 71(3), 373–381.
Sears, K., et al. (2010). “Recent developments in carbon vanotube membranes for water purification and gas separation.” Materials, 3(1), 127–149.
Slobodian, P., Riha, P., Lengalova, A., Svoboda, P., and Saha, P. (2011). “Multi-wall carbon nanotube networks as potential resistive gas sensors for organic vapor detection.” Carbon, 49(7), 2499–2507.
Tasis, D., Tagmatarchis, N., Georgakilas, V., and Prato, M. (2003). “Soluble carbon nanotubes.” Chem. Eur. J., 9(17), 4000–4008.
Thostenson, E. T., Ren, Z., and Tsu-Wei, C. (2001). “Advances in the science and technology of carbon nanotubes and their composites: A review.” Comput. Sci. Tech., 61(13), 1899–1912.
Veliky, K. B. (2014). “Cast forming of carbon nanotube networks using paraffin.” Honors thesis, Dept. of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL.
Vohrer, U., Kolaric, I., Haque, M. H., Roth, S., and Detlaff-Weglikowska, U. (2004). “Carbon nanotube sheets for the use as artificial muscles.” Carbon, 42(5–6), 1159–1164.
Whitby, R. L. D., Fukuda, T., Maekawa, T., James, S. L., and Mikhalovsky, S. V. (2008). “Geometric control and tuneable pore size distribution of buckypaper and buckydiscs.” Carbon, 46(6), 949–956.
Yeh, C. (2004). “Characterization of nanotube buckypaper manufacturing process.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL.
Yekani Fard, M., Liu, Y., and Chattopadhyay, A. (2012a). “Analytical solution for flexural response of epoxy resin materials.” J. Aerosp. Eng., 395–408.
Yekani Fard, M., Liu, Y., and Chattopadhyay, A. (2012b). “Characterization of epoxy resin including strain rate effects using digital image correlation system.” J. Aerosp. Eng., 308–319.
Yekani Fard, M., Raji, B., and Chattopadhyay, A. (2014a). “The ratio of flexural strength to uniaxial tensile strength in bulk epoxy resin polymeric materials.” J. Polymer. Test., 40, 156–162.
Yekani Fard, M., Sadat, S. M., Raji, B., and Chattopadhyay, A. (2014b). “Damage characterization of surface and sub-surface defects in stitch-bonded biaxial carbon/epoxy composites.” Compos. Part B, 56, 821–829.
Young, J. (2009). “Continuous buckypaper manufacturing process: Process investigation and improvement.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL.
Zhang, J., and Jiang, D. (2012). “Influence of geometries of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the pore structures of Buckypaper.” Compos. Part A, 43(3), 469–474.
Zhang, X. (2008). “Hydroentangling: A novel approach to high-speed fabrication of carbon nanotube membranes.” Adv. Mater., 20(21), 4140–4144.
Zheng, C., Qian, W., Yu, Y., and Wei, F. (2013). “Ionic liquid coated single-walled carbon nanotube buckypaper as supercapacitor electrode.” Particuology, 11(4), 409–414.
Zhu, W., et al. (2010). “Buckypaper-based catalytic electrodes for improving platinum utilization and PEMFC’s performance.” Electrochim. Acta, 55(7), 2555–2560.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 29 • Issue 3 • May 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 25, 2015
Accepted: Jul 24, 2015
Published online: Sep 30, 2015
Discussion open until: Feb 29, 2016
Published in print: May 1, 2016
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.