Carbon nanotubes have been used as reinforcements in polymers due to their high elasticity, flexibility, and thermal conductivity. In this study, pellets of high-density polyethylene +20 wt% carbon nanotube and polypropylene +20 wt% carbon nanotube were cured using microwave energy. X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, uniaxial tensile test, and scanning electron microscopy was used to study morphology, thermal stability, and mechanical performance of the microwave-cured composites. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the bonding between the polymer and carbon nanotube as the peaks shifted and intensified. From the thermal study, it was observed that melting point of the composites is affected by microwave curing and the crystallinity of high-density polyethylene/carbon nanotube and polypropylene/carbon nanotube changed by 57.67% and 47.28%, respectively. Results of the uniaxial tensile test indicated that Young’s modulus of microwave cured high-density polyethylene/carbon nanotube and polypropylene/carbon nanotube composites were improved by 295% and 787.8%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic fractography shows the stretching of polymer over-lapped on carbon nanotubes in the direction of the applied load.
IijimaS. Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon. Nature1991; 354: 56–58.
2.
ThostensonETChouTW. On the elastic properties of carbon nanotube based composites: modeling and characterization. J Phys D Appl Phys2003; 36: 573–582.
3.
MittalGDhandVRheeKYet al.A review on carbon nanotubes and graphene as fillers in reinforced polymer nanocomposites. J Ind Eng Chem2015; 21: 11–25.
4.
KaiyanHWeifengYShuyingTet al.A fabrication process to make CNT/EP composite strain sensors. High Perform Polym2018; 30: 224–229.
5.
Al-SalehMHJawadSAEl GhanemHM. Electrical and dielectric behaviors of dry-mixed CNT/UHMWPE nanocomposites. High Perform Polym2014; 26: 205–211.
6.
TjongSC. Structural and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. Mater Sci Eng R Reports2006; 53: 73–197.
7.
AnsariRRouhiSEghbalianM. On the elastic properties of curved carbon nanotubes/polymer nanocomposites: a modified rule of mixture. J Reinf Plast Compos2017; 36: 991–1008.
8.
MishraRRSharmaAK. Microwave-material interaction phenomena: heating mechanisms, challenges and opportunities in material processing. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf2016; 81: 78–97.
Velasco-SantosCMart nez-Hern ndezALFisherFet al.Dynamical–mechanical and thermal analysis of carbon nanotube–methyl-ethyl methacrylate nanocomposites. J Phys D Appl Phys2003; 36: 1423–1428.
11.
GamitDMishraRRSharmaAK. Joining of mild steel pipes using microwave hybrid heating at 2.45 GHz and joint characterization. J Manuf Process2017; 27: 158–168.
12.
ZafarSSharmaAK. Development and characterisations of WC–12Co microwave clad. Mater Charact2014; 96: 241–248.
13.
GuptaDBhoviPMSharmaAKet al.Development and characterization of microwave composite cladding. J Manuf Process2012; 14: 243–249.
14.
AgrawalD. Microwave sintering of ceramics, composites and metallic materials, and melting of glasses. Trans Indian Ceram Soc2006; 65: 129–144.
15.
WiseRJFromentID. Microwave welding of thermoplastics. J Mater Sci2001; 36: 5935–5954.
16.
AliSBajpaiPKSinghIet al.Curing of natural fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites using microwave energy. J Reinf Plast Compos2014; 33: 993–999.
17.
MishraRRSharmaAK. On mechanism of in-situ microwave casting of aluminium alloy 7039 and cast microstructure. Mater Des2016; 112: 97–106.
18.
RangariVKBhuyanMSJeelaniS. Microwave processing and characterization of EPON 862/CNT nanocomposites. Mater Sci Eng B Solid-State Mater Adv Technol2010; 168: 117–121.
19.
FotiouIBaltopoulosAVavouliotisAet al.Microwave curing of epoxy polymers reinforced with carbon nanotubes. J Appl Polym Sci2013; 129: 2754–2764.
20.
FanZLuoGZhangZet al.Electromagnetic and microwave absorbing properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes / polymer composites. Mater Sci Eng B2006; 132: 85–89.
21.
QingYZhouWLuoFet al.Epoxy-silicone filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbonyl iron particles as a microwave absorber. Carbon N Y2010; 48: 4074–4080.
22.
ChangJLiangGGuAet al.The production of carbon nanotube/epoxy composites with a very high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss by microwave curing. Carbon N Y2012; 50: 689–698.
23.
HanZFinaA. Thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes and their polymer nanocomposites: a review. Prog Polym Sci2011; 36: 914–944.
24.
LinWMoonKSWongCP. A combined process of in situ functionalization and microwave treatment to achieve ultrasmall thermal expansion of aligned carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites: toward applications as thermal interface materials. Adv Mater2009; 21: 2421–2424.
25.
GuptaMLeongEWW. Microwaves and metals, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2007.
26.
YangB-XShiJ-HPramodaKPet al.Enhancement of the mechanical properties of polypropylene using polypropylene-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Compos Sci Technol2008; 68: 2490–2497.
27.
ColemanJNCadekMBlakeRet al.High performance nanotube-reinforced plastics: understanding the mechanism of strength increase. Adv Funct Mater2004; 14: 791–798.
28.
ManchadoMALValentiniLBiagiottiJet al.Thermal and mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes–polypropylene composites prepared by melt processing. Carbon N Y2005; 43: 1499–1505.
29.
TalbottMFSpringerGSBerglundLA. The effects of crystallinity on the mechanical properties of PEEK polymer and graphite fiber reinforced PEEK. J Compos Mater1987; 21: 1056–1081.
30.
KanagarajSVarandaFRZhil’tsovaTV.et al.Mechanical properties of high density polyethylene/carbon nanotube composites. Compos Sci Technol2007; 67: 3071–3077.
31.
AalaieJRahmatpourAMaghamiS. Preparation and characterization of linear low density polyethylene/carbon nanotube nanocomposites. J Macromol Sci Part B Phys2007; 46: 877–889.
32.
MazumdarSK. Composites manufacturing: materials, product, and process engineering, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2002.
33.
Sozer EM, Simacek P and Advani SG. Resin transfer molding (RTM) in polymer matrix composites. In: Advani S and Hsiao K-T (eds) Manufacturing techniques for polymer matrix composites (PMCs). 1st ed. New York: Elsevier, pp. 245–309.
34.
Hsiao K-T and Heider D. Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) in polymer matrix composites. In: Advani S and Hsiao K-T (eds) Manufacturing techniques for polymer matrix composites (PMCs). 1st ed. New York: Elsevier, pp. 310–347.
35.
Hubert P, Fernlund G and Poursartip A. Autoclave processing for composites. In: Advani S and Hsiao K-T (eds) Manufacturing techniques for polymer matrix composites (PMCs). 1st ed. New York: Elsevier, pp. 414–434.
36.
HussainFHojjatiMOkamotoMet al.Polymer-matrix nanocomposites, processing, manufacturing, and application: an overview. J Compos Mater2006; 40: 1511–1575.
37.
AzarsaEMostafapourA. On the feasibility of producing polymer–metal composites via novel variant of friction stir processing. J Manuf Process2013; 15: 682–688.
38.
EstelleKBlairDEvansKet al.Manufacturing of smart composites with hyperelastic property gradients and shape memory using fused deposition. J Manuf Process2017; 28: 500–507.
