Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube polymer composites

N, N-dimethylformamide surfactant methanol solution was developed to functionalize the surface of multi-waled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Carbon nanotubes reinforced epoxy composites with different concentrations were fabricated by sonicating functionalized MWNTs solution to epoxy resin. Stress-strain behavior of the composites at room temperature shows its elastic modulus firstly increases and then decreases with the loading. At 50 °C, the composites undergoes from the reversible visco-elasticity to plasticity and its elastic modulus, tensile strength affected clearly by temperature for the loading lower than 1%. For more than 1% loading, however, the mechanical properties degenerate clearly.