Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Kosuri, Anuraga
URN	etd-04182005-172844
Title	Alignment of Carbon Nanotubes in Composites
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Mechanical Engineering, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Yousef Haik Committee Chair Patrick J.Hollis Committee Member Peter J.Gielisse Committee Member
Keywords	Carbon Nanotubes Alignment Low magnetic Field
Date of Defense	2005-04-12
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Carbon Nanotubes have been undergoing intensive research since their discovery in 1991. They have some excellent properties based on their unique chemical structure. The industry has been impatient to use them as reinforcement in various applications in order to fully tap their properties. However some issues such as poor dispersion, lack of orientation, cost and poor interfacing have been limiting their usage on a large scale. The main objective if this thesis is to find a method to process carbon nanotubes as a good reinforcement by trying to align them using a magnetic field. Some studies have been studied previously in this regard. These methods however use either extensive equipment or are not effective enough to apply on a large scale. Out of various manufacturing methods of carbon nanotubes, HiPCO processed nanotubes are the most popular ones to date. These nanotubes were used and composites were formed using 0.15 wt% nanotubes in an epoxy polymer. A suitable hardener was used and curing was done at room temperature in presence of a magnetic field. This sample was compared to another sample manufactured similarly without any magnetic field. The alignment was observed using a TEM. The inherent Fe impurities in HiPCO manufactured nanotubes were optimally used to assist in alignment. Conductivity experiments were done on a comparative basis. The unaligned and aligned composites showed marked difference in the conductivity. This was done indirectly by checking for change in dielectric constant at varying temperature. SQUID analysis was done to check for the magnetic properties of carbon nanotubes as they contained Fe as the dominant impurity. Also X-ray diffraction studies done to check the properties of the epoxy used in making the composite were also discussed.
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