Development of Carbon-Epoxy Composites with Enhanced Electrical Conductivity

Majumder, R and M, Deepa (2014) Development of Carbon-Epoxy Composites with Enhanced Electrical Conductivity. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad.

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Abstract

Highly conducting carbon-epoxy composites were developed in this project. The surfaces of carbon epoxy-composites were modified to increase the electrical conductivity of the composites. Conductive polymers namely poly (pyrrole) or (PPY) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) or PEDOT, PPY and PEDOT coated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and metal nano-moieties (Cu nanoparticles, Cu nanowires) were used as reinforcement matrix for C-epoxy nanocomposites (CFRPs). For this purpose, in-situ polymerization of the monomers pyrrole and EDOT in the presence of carbon nanotubes was carried out by using sodium bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) template and ferric chloride oxidant. The composites were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, Thermo gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. 2D laminated C-epoxy composites were prepared and the effect of different conductive reinforcement concentration (0wt%, 0.25wt%, 0.5wt% and 1.0wt%) on the electrical properties of the resulting composites were studied. Electrical conductivities were determined by using I-V and impedance methods. The inclusion of MWCNT/conducting polymers improved the electrical conductivity of C-epoxy composites considerably. These findings may have a significant bearing on realizing cost effective conducting C-epoxy composites with the ability to avoid static charge accumulation, especially for aerospace applications.

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