Self-sensing and dispersive evaluation were investigated with different dispersion solvents for single carbon fiber/acid treated carbon nanotube (CNT)-epoxy composites by electro-micromechanical technique and acoustic emission (AE) under cyclic loading/subsequent unloading. Gradient nanocomposite specimen was used to obtain contact resistivity using two- and four-probe method. Optimized dispersion procedure was set up to obtain improved mechanical and electrical properties. The case using good dispersion solvent exhibited higher apparent modulus and lower electrical contact resistivity for both the untreated and acid-treated CNT-epoxy composites. It is because of better stress transferring effect and enhanced interfacial adhesion. Micro-damage sensing was also detected simultaneously by AE combined with electrical resistance measurement. It exhibited the stepwise increase with progressing fiber fracture due to the maintaining numerous electrical contacts of CNT. Thin network of CNT by dipping method was formed on glass substrate to obtain conductive and transparent plate by UV transmittance.

Date Published: 9 February 2009
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 7206, Reliability, Packaging, Testing, and Characterization of MEMS/MOEMS and Nanodevices VIII, 720608 (9 February 2009); doi: 10.1117/12.807597

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7206:
Reliability, Packaging, Testing, and Characterization of MEMS/MOEMS and Nanodevices VIII
Richard C. Kullberg; Rajeshuni Ramesham, Editor(s)