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Optimizing Mechanical and Electrical Performance of SWCNTs/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Epoxy Nanocomposites: The Role of Filler Concentration and Alignment
oleh: Zulfiqar Ali, Saba Yaqoob, Alessandro Lo Schiavo, Alberto D’Amore
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2024-09-01 |
Deskripsi
The demand for polymer composites with improved mechanical and electrical properties is crucial for advanced aerospace, electronics, and energy storage applications. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and iron oxide (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) nanoparticles are key fillers that enhance these properties, yet challenges like orientation, uniform dispersion, and agglomeration must be addressed to realize their full potential. This study focuses on developing SWCNTs/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> epoxy composites by keeping the SWCNT concentration constant at 0.03 Vol.% and varying with Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> concentrations at 0.1, 0.5, and 1 Vol.% for two different configurations: randomly orientated (R-) and magnetic field-assisted horizontally aligned (A-) SWCNTs/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> epoxy composites, and investigates the effects of filler concentration, dispersion, and magnetic alignment on the mechanical and electrical properties. The research reveals that both composite configurations achieve an optimal mechanical performance at 0.5 Vol.% Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, while A- SWCNTs/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> epoxy composites outperformed at all concentrations. However, at 1 Vol.% Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, mechanical properties decline due to nanoparticle agglomeration, which disrupts stress distribution. In contrast, electrical conductivity peaks at 1 Vol.% Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, indicating that the higher density of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles enhances the conductive network despite the mechanical losses. This study highlights the need for precise control over filler content and alignment to optimize mechanical strength and electrical conductivity in SWCNTs/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> epoxy nanocomposites.