FUEL CELL PLATE MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURE

FUEL CELL INSTITUTE

UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

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Abstract

1.      International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME)  

     Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam, Malaysia, 24-25 June 2009
 

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Nanocomposites: Fabrication of Electrical Conductive Plate

 Abu Bakar Sulong, Nishata Royan A/P Rajendran Royan, Hendra Suherman, and Jaafar Sahari

Correspondence author: abubakar@eng.ukm.my

Fuel Cell Institute, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,

Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,

43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 Abstract

Carbon nanotubes have excellent mechanical and electrical properties, and are also a good reinforcement material for composites than conventional materials (carbon and glass fibers). The matrix used in this study was epoxy (thermoset material) and reinforcement filler was multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The different MWCNTs concentrations (0 ~ 10 wt. %) were added into the epoxy resin. The dispersion of MWCNTs in epoxy resin was conducted by high speed mixer through mechanical shearing mechanism. The mixture of epoxy/MWCNTs suspension was poured into the mold and compression molding was conducted for fabrication of MWCNTs/epoxy nanocomposites. The electrical conductivity of nanocomposite by variation of CNTs concentration was measured by the four point probe. Dispersion state of CNTs in epoxy matrix was observed on fractured surface by scanning electron microscopic.  Non conductive epoxy polymer becomes conductor as addition of CNTs. Electrical conductivity of nanocomposite plates were increased with increasing CNTs concentration.  Agglomerations of CNTs were observed on fractured surfaces.  This phenomenon due to CNTs which used in this study was at as produced state. Long and entanglement of individual CNTs cause easily to agglomerates. Van de wall’s force interactions between CNTs also contribute to agglomerations of CNTs.  Hardness property of epoxy nanocomposites was reached the highest value at 5.0wt% , and then it was decreased.

 Keywords: carbon nanotube, electrical conductive polymer composites, thermoset based nanocomposites