Dopamine modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and its influences on the thermal, mechanical, and tribological properties of epoxy resin composites

A functionalization process with dopamine on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) has been carried out in order to enhance the tribological properties of MWNTs/epoxy resin (EP) composites. Dopamine modification is of signality for the performance of MWNTs/EP composites. The hardness and flexural strength of the composites were significantly improved with the incorporation of dopamine modified MWNTs, owning to the enhanced interfacial bonding between MWNTs and EP. Meanwhile, the thermal characterizations indicated that dopamine played an important role in improving the thermal stability of MWNTs/EP composites. More importantly, the friction and wear properties of dopamine modified MWNTs/EP composites were enhanced considerably and its wear rate was 85.8% lower than that of pure EP. Dopamine modified MWNTs were linked with the matrix by strong covalent bond to form a great network structure and impeded the movement of polymer molecule chains in the composites. Then the friction load transmitted efficiently through the network structure and the plastic deformation was restrained as well as the initiation and growth of cracks on the worn surfaces. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:116–125, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers