Mechanical Properties and Gradient Effects of Carbon Nanotube as Polymer Nanocomposites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) and then embedded in epoxy polymer at several weight ratios; 0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3 (wt %) for tensile testing and Young's modulus determination using intron machine. Tensile strength and Young's modulus of the epoxy resin were increased with the addition of CNTs to a certain extend and then decreased with the increase in weight fraction of carbon nanotubes. The best properties occurred at 1.5 (wt %) of CNTs. Scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal the dispersion status of carbon nanotubes in the nanocomposites.