Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites Reinforced with New Amino Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

The aim of the work was to synthesize epoxy-based nanocomposites reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). MWNTs were first functionalized in order to increase the dispersion degree within the polymer matrix and thus to ensure good adhesion between the two components. The functionalization process consists of two steps: first, MWNT were oxidized, and then an amidation reaction occurred with various amines using carbondiimide and succinimide as activators. Thus, new modified MWNT with benzylamine (BA) and nonylphenoxy polypropyleneoxyamine (B100) were synthesized. The nanocomposites obtained were based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and modified MWNT and were fully characterized by TGA, DMA, XPS, SEM, TEM, and FTIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]