Irradiation treatment of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and its effect on the thermal properties of their composites with epoxy resin

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) were irradiated to different doses by high-energy electron beams.The structure of the irradiated MWCNTs was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.MWCNT/epoxy composites were prepared by a cast-molding method.The effect of the irradiation on the properties of the composites was studied by scanning electron microscopy,thermogravimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis.Results showed that oxygen-containing groups were covalently bonded on the MWCNTs.The MWCNTs were collapsed and even broken after irradiation.The percentage of the oxygen-containing groups had a maximum of 4% at a radiation dose of 170 kGy.It was found that the irradiated MWCNTs could be easily dispersed in epoxy resin.Addition of 0.5 mass% MWCNTs irradiated with 170 kGy to epoxy resin improved the glass transition temperature and the initial decomposition temperature by 8 and 14 ℃,respectively.