FUEL CELL PLATE MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURE

FUEL CELL INSTITUTE

UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

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Abstract

Electrical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes-Based Epoxy Nanocomposites for High Electrical Conductive Plate

 Hendra Suherman, Abu Bakar Sulong and Jaafar Sahari

 Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Carbon nanotubes have excellent mechanical and electrical properties. It also a good candidate for reinforcement material in polymer matrix composites. Recent theoretical and experimental findings indicate that they have excellent properties that can replace ordinary reinforcement materials in advanced engineering applications. The matrix used in this study was epoxy resin (EP) and reinforcement fillers were carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphite (G). Different variation of  CNTs (0~5 wt. %) and graphite (30 ~ 80 wt. %) were added into the epoxy resin . The dispersion of CNTs and G in epoxy resin were conducted by high speed mixer through mechanical shearing. The mixture of CNTs/G/EP was poured into the steel mold, and CNTs/G/EP nanocomposites had been fabricated through compression molding. The electrical conductivity of nanocomposites in term of variation of CNTs and G concentration were measured by the four point probe for in plane electrical conductivity. The highest electrical conductivity of G/EP composites is 7 S/cm at 80 wt.% G. The results revealed that addition of G with CNTs is an effective way to produce high conductive nanocomposite. The electrical conductivity reaches 21 S/cm with mixing of 5 wt.% CNTs and 40 wt.% G to 55 wt.% EP. It gave three times of electrical conductivity value at 80 wt.% G and 20 wt.% EP (7 S/cm). Dispersion state of CNTs and G in epoxy matrix was observed on fractured surface by scanning electron microscopic.

  KEYWORDS: (Electrical conductivity, carbon nanotubes, graphite, high conductive plate)