Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Modification of a Nitrile-Epoxy Film Adhesive

Carbon nanotube (CNT) Modification of a Nitrile-Epoxy Film Adhesive

S. Suraj. *, P. Sasidharan Achary** Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Thiruvananthapuram, India

Abstract:

Nano particle modified adhesives have received considerable attention because of their potential to achieve property enhancement significantly greater than that is attainable using conventional fillers. CNT with their unusual mechanical, thermal and electrical properties have been the focus of intense research. In this paper, we report that the incorporation of CNT into a nitrile-epoxy film adhesive improve the peel and shear bond strength to aluminum. Unsupported adhesive film of epoxy-dicyandiamide has been developed that contained the reactive carboxyl terminated butadiene acrylonitrile rubber (CTBN). The adhesive film was prepared on a spin coater after the pre-reaction of epoxy-CTBN. The optimized concentration of CTBN in epoxy- dicyandiamide with respect to bond strength to aluminium was selected for CNT modification. Planetary ball milling and sonication methods were adopted for the dispersion of CNT as received into the adhesive film. To achieve better dispersion of CNT particles in the film, CNT was oxidized by nitric acid to introduce carboxylic acid groups on the tube and pre-reacted with epoxy to stabilize the dispersion. The performance of these CNT modified adhesive films was compared for bonding aluminium substrate. The results indicate that improvement in adhesive bond strength of the nitrile- epoxy film can be achieved by CNT modification.

* [email protected]

** [email protected] ( author for correspondance)

To Dr.B.Kothandaraman Head, Dept.of Rubber&Plastic Technology MIT Campus