Three-Dimensional Nano-Morphology of Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Filled Poly(methyl methacrylate) Microcapsules
1
School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USA
2
School of Civil Aviation, Giresun University, Giresun 28200, Turkey
3
Material Science and Engineering Department, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07070, Turkey
4
Mechanical Engineering Program, University of Houston–Clear Lake, Houston, TX 77058, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2019, 12(9), 1387; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12091387
Received: 1 April 2019 / Revised: 17 April 2019 / Accepted: 27 April 2019 / Published: 29 April 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites: Modeling and Applications)
The three-dimensional nano-morphology of poly(methyl methacrylate; PMMA) microcapsules filled with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and epoxy resin were investigated by various microscopy methods, including a novel, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) method. Initially, PMMA microcapsules containing various amounts of CNTs were synthesized by a solvent evaporation method. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that pore-free, smooth-surface microcapsules formed with various types of core-shell morphologies. The average size of CNT/epoxy/PMMA microcapsules was shown to decrease from ~52 μm to ~15 μm when mixing speed during synthesis increased from 300 rpm to 1000 rpm. In general, the presence of CNTs resulted in slightly larger microcapsules and higher variations in size. Moreover, three-dimensional scans obtained from confocal microscopy revealed that higher CNT content increased the occurrence and size of CNT aggregates inside the microcapsules. Entrapped submicron air bubbles were also observed inside most microcapsules, particularly within those with higher CNT content.
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Keywords:
microcapsule; poly(methyl methacrylate); epoxy; carbon nanotubes; laser scanning confocal microscopy
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MDPI and ACS Style
Icduygu, M.G.; Asilturk, M.; Yalcinkaya, M.A.; Hamidi, Y.K.; Altan, M.C. Three-Dimensional Nano-Morphology of Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Filled Poly(methyl methacrylate) Microcapsules. Materials 2019, 12, 1387. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12091387
AMA Style
Icduygu MG, Asilturk M, Yalcinkaya MA, Hamidi YK, Altan MC. Three-Dimensional Nano-Morphology of Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Filled Poly(methyl methacrylate) Microcapsules. Materials. 2019; 12(9):1387. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12091387
Chicago/Turabian StyleIcduygu, M. G.; Asilturk, Meltem; Yalcinkaya, M. A.; Hamidi, Youssef K.; Altan, M. C. 2019. "Three-Dimensional Nano-Morphology of Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Filled Poly(methyl methacrylate) Microcapsules" Materials 12, no. 9: 1387. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12091387
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