Microstructure and Mechanical properties of Multiwall carbon nanotubes reinforced Polymer Composites

Carbon Nano-Tubes (CNTs) have stimulated extreme research into a broad range of applications in electronics, structural materials and chemical processing due to their remarkable structural, mechanical and thermal properties. In the present article, attempts have been made to investigate the effect of incorporation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on microstructure and mechanical properties of High density polyethylene (HDPE) / MWNTs composites using High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nano-indentation methods. A standard Berkovich indenter has been used for indentation at normal load (200 mu N). The MWNTs at various concentrations specifically 0.20, 0.40, 0.60 and 0.80 wt. % were dispersed in the HDPE polymer matrix using melt mixing process. The HR-TEM and AFM microstructure images reveal the homogeneous dispersion of MWNTs in the HDPE polymer matrix. The mechanical property (viz., Hardness and Elastic modulus) of MWNTs / HDPE composites was enhanced appreciably with the increase in concentration of multi wall carbon nanotubes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.