Multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with triethylenetetramine as fillers to enhance epoxy dimensional thermal stability

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have been used as fillers to improve thermal properties such as glass transition temperature (Tg) of epoxy materials. In this work, nanocomposites based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resin and triethylenetetramine (TETA) were prepared by a three-roll mill process with TETA-functionalized (MWCNT–COTETA) and neat MWCNT. Thermogravimetric analysis of the nanofillers showed that in the case of MWCNT–COTETA, there is a 15 % mass loss that can be attributed to –COTETA and residual oxygen-containing functional groups. The influence of chemical modification on the behavior of the glass Tg was evaluated by dynamic scanning calorimetry. The MWCNT–COTETA allowed a ~20 °C reproducible increase of Tg in concentrations in the range of 0.5–1.0 mass%. Furthermore, images obtained by scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the morphology of the polymer matrix and its interfaces. The quality of the dispersion and interaction of the nanotubes in the epoxy matrix was assessed from the images. Both the neat epoxy and the nanocomposite with MWCNT showed low thermal shrinkage upon curing.