Reinforcement of SC-15 epoxy with CNT/CNF under high magnetic field: an investigation of mechanical and thermal response

We report here reinforcement of SC-15 epoxy matrix with 1.0 wt% loading of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and cured under a high (28 T) magnetic field. The improvement in mechanical properties such as compressive strength and stiffness was phenomenal with CNT inclusion, about 126% and 166% increase in strength and modulus, respectively. Enhancement in the glass transition (T _g) and thermal decomposition temperatures was also significant, by about 30 and 23 °C, respectively. Although the degree of anisotropy introduced by the magnetic field was not significant, it was observed that almost half of the improvement was due to magnetic flocculation. In the following is described the results of initial experiments conducted in the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL). Enhanced properties of the nanocomposites strongly suggest improved ordering of nanoparticles within the matrix.