Strengthening Mechanism of Electrothermal Actuation in the Epoxy Composite with an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Nanopaper

Abstract

We assessed an effect of an embedded electro-conductive multiwalled carbon nanotube nanopaper in an epoxy matrix on the release of the frozen actuation force and the actuation torque in the carbon nanotube nanopaper/epoxy composite after heating above its glass transition temperature. The presence of the nanopaper augmented the recovery of the actuation stress by the factor of two in comparison with the pure epoxy strips. We proposed a procedure that allowed us to assess this composite strengthening mechanism. The strengthening of the composite was attributed to the interlocking of the carbon nanotubes with the epoxy. When reheated, the composite samples, which contained stretched mutually intertwined nanotubes and epoxy segments, released a greater actuation stress then the epoxy samples, which comprised of less elastic networks of crosslinked segments of pure epoxy.

Electrothermal Actuation and Release of Adhesiveness of Conductive Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Composites by Joule Heating

“…These secondary crosslinks are the main principle of the fixation of the molded shape. [4] After a reheating above T g , the shape recovery is initiated by detaching of the secondary crosslinks and releasing of the stored strain energy. and uniformly heated MWCNT/epoxy composite strips by Joule heating can also be used to bond components.…”

“…Further details of the experimental procedures were similar to those in our previous articles. [4,5]…”

Recent Progress on Multifunctional Thermally Conductive Epoxy Composite

“…The flapping and bending movement of the wing can be controlled by adjusting the frequency and duration of the applied voltage. Additionally, Slobodian et al [112] investigated the effect of embedding electro-conductive multiwalled carbon nanotube nano-papers in an epoxy matrix on the release of the frozen actuation force and actuation torque in the resulting composite after being heated over its glass transition temperature. The presence of the nano-paper significantly enhanced the recovery of the actuation stress, increasing it by a factor of two compared to pure epoxy strips.…”