Cure rate and mechanical properties of a DGEBF epoxy resin modified with carbon nanotubes

Nanocomposites, made by epoxy resin and multi wall carbon nanotubes (CNT) (0.5–1.5 wt%), were studied in this work. Mechanical and physical analyses were performed in order to investigate both mechanical performance and the cure kinetic. Experimental results suggested that the presence of carbon nanotubes modified the polymeric resin properties. The addition of a small amount (0.5%) of carbon nanotubes increased the cure reaction kinetic of the epoxy resin but induced a little embrittlement. Higher concentrations (1.0–1.5%) of CNTs reduced the molecular chains mobility, the cure reaction kinetic and the mechanical performance. The results presented in this work evidenced the necessity to increase the resin/nanotube interaction with an appropriate functionalization.