0000000000480559
AUTHOR
Karl Schulte
showing 7 related works from this author
Hydrothermally resistant thermally reduced graphene oxide and multi-wall carbon nanotube based epoxy nanocomposites
2013
This study is focused on the investigation of thermo-mechanical properties of an epoxy resin filled with thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) after exposure of samples to hot distilled water. Addition of low contents of TRGO and MWCNTs greatly reduces the water sorption capacity of the epoxy polymer and improves its resistance to hydrothermal ageing. The glassy and rubbery moduli of the neat epoxy decreased for about 20% and 80%, respectively, while TRGO-based epoxy filled with 0.3 wt.% of TRGO showed only 6% reduction of both moduli. Hydrothermal ageing resulted in an enormous drop in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the neat epoxy, by abo…
Anomalous water diffusion in epoxy/carbon nanoparticle composites
2019
Abstract Water absorption-desorption-resorption and swelling were studied for a DGEBA-based amine-cured epoxy resin filled with four types of carbon nanoparticles: multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), graphite nano-platelets (GnP), expanded graphite platelets, and carbon black. Nanocomposites are characterised by lower diffusivity (down to 20% for epoxy/GnP) and increased water sorption capacity compared to the neat epoxy. Anomalous water absorption and swelling of nanocomposites is finely described by the diffusion-relaxation model. The relaxation times, considered as quantitative indicators of changes in segmental mobility of the polymer, increased with addition of nanoparticles and decrea…
Water transport in epoxy/MWCNT composites
2013
Moisture and water uptake of epoxy/multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites was studied in a wide range of atmosphere relative humidity and temperatures. Addition of up to 1 wt.% of MWCNTs into the neat epoxy resulted to the twofold decrease of the diffusivity, while the levels of moisture/water uptake remained unchanged. The positive effect on the reduction of the diffusion coefficient diminishes with the increase of temperature. Differences in the water transport properties and plasticization ability of the neat polymer and its nanocomposites are explained by the free volume considerations and the polymer–water interactions, which are verified by the results of thermomechanical analy…
Strain-dependent electrical resistance of epoxy/MWCNT composite after hydrothermal aging
2015
Abstract The electrical resistance of epoxy/multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites was studied under the effect of hygro- and hydrothermal aging. Tensile tests were conducted and the responses in the electrical resistance were measured during the tests for samples with different prehistory of environmental exposure. The overall pattern of the electrical resistance change versus strain for the samples tested consists of linear and nonlinear regions with a broad peak that precedes the ultimate strength of the sample and occurs at the onset of evident plastic deformation in the stress–strain curve. The composite with lower content of MWCNTs exhibits a more pronounced nonlinear behavior …
Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Thermoplastic Copolymers Filled with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes: Effect of Hydrothermal Ageing on Mechanical, Thermal, and Ele…
2013
A range of properties of two commercial thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, Elvax 420 and Elvax 450, neat and as melt-mixed composite filled with 15 wt.-% of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), are studied in the “as produced” state and after hydrothermal ageing. Addition of MWCNTs into the neat copolymers introduces the functionality of electrical conductivity and significantly improves their mechanical properties, while thermal characteristics are slightly affected by the presence of carbon nanotubes. A remarkable increase of the elastic modulus (150%) and stress at failure (50%) in stress–strain experiments as well as creep resistance (40%) of the nanocomposites in c…
Nanomechanics of individual aerographite tetrapods
2017
Carbon-based three-dimensional aerographite networks, built from interconnected hollow tubular tetrapods of multilayer graphene, are ultra-lightweight materials recently discovered and ideal for advanced multifunctional applications. In order to predict the bulk mechanical behaviour of networks it is very important to understand the mechanics of their individual building blocks. Here we characterize the mechanical response of single aerographite tetrapods via in situ scanning electron and atomic force microscopy measurements. To understand the acquired results, which show that the overall behaviour of the tetrapod is governed by the buckling of the central joint, a mechanical nonlinear mode…
Creep and recovery of epoxy/MWCNT nanocomposites
2012
Abstract Creep and creep–recovery of epoxy/multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites was studied in a wide range of applied loads in order to evaluate the contribution of nanotubes on the time-dependent behaviour of the epoxy matrix. Incorporation of up to 1 wt.% of C150P MWCNTs has negligible influence on the elastic, viscoelastic and viscoplastic response of the epoxy system. No systematic changes of the creep characteristics depending on the content of nanotubes are noticed in the range of stresses from 0.3 up to 0.75 from the ultimate strength. Creep resistance and recovery performance of the epoxy matrix is not negatively affected by the addition of MWCNTs and the same analytical m…