Manufacturing, characterization and thermal conductivity of epoxy and benzoxazine multi-walled carbon nanotube buckypaper composites

The preparation procedure of epoxy and benzoxazine multi-walled carbon nanotube buckypaper composites is described. The morphology of the buckypaper is characterized by scanning electron microscopy and porosimetry, revealing a non-uniform porous structure. The wetting behavior of epoxy and benzoxazine resins in the buckypaper surface is studied by contact angle measurements. Scanning electron microscopy photographs of the composites obtained by infiltration of the buckypaper with epoxy and benzoxazine resins and subsequent curing reveal that a good impregnation is achieved. Thermal conductivity results reveal higher values for pristine buckypaper than for the composites, which is explained by the extremely small thermal conductance of the nanotube-polymer interface. The thicker resin layer surrounding the nanotubes observed in the buckypaper/epoxy composite justifies its lower conductivity, as compared with the buckypaper/benzoxazine composite.