Graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF)/polymer materials. II. GCNF/epoxy monoliths using reactive oxydianiline linker molecules and the effect of nanofiber reinforcement on curing conditions

Abstract Reactive (r‐) graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNFs) with 3,4'‐oxydianiline (ODA), r‐GCNF‐ODA, capable of covalent binding to an epoxy resin during thermal curing, are prepared by reaction of GCNFs surface‐derivatized with ODA linker molecules (GCNF‐ODA) with butyl glycidyl ether. The thermal curing characteristics of r‐GCNF‐ODA/epoxy resin mixtures having nanofiber loadings of 0.3 wt% and 1.3 wt% are analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The quality of the cured GCNF/epoxy nanocomposites is assessed through bending tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These results indicate that the presence of r‐GCNF‐ODA nanofibers affects the thermal curing process, and that additional heating is required to achieve cured nanocomposites at higher nanofiber loadings. Reaction of GCNF‐ODA nanofibers with butyl glycidyl ether prior to mixing with an epoxy resin gives more well‐dispersed r‐GCNF‐ODA/epoxy resin mixtures and r‐GCNF‐ODA/epoxy nanocomposites having better flexural strength than the corresponding GCNF‐ODA/epoxy materials. POLYM. COMPOS., 26:128–135, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers