EPOXY RESIN COMPOSITES
The present invention relates to epoxy/nanotube composites. The composites have at least one epoxy resin. The composites also have a plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes have an aspect ratio of from about 25 to about 250. The epoxy/nanotube composite may be bonded or adhered to a substrate.
1 . An epoxy/nanotube composite comprising a plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes having an aspect ratio of from about 25 to about 250, and at least one epoxy resin.
2 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes have an oxidation level of from about 3 wt % to about 15 wt %.
3 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes have an average diameter of 6-12 nm and a length from about 400 nm to about 1,200 nm.
4 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes comprise a derivative carbonyl species selected from the group consisting of a ketone, quaternary amine, amide, ester, acyl halogen, and metal salts.
5 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes comprise an oxidation species select from the group consisting of carboxylic acid and derivative carboxylate groups.
6 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes comprise a residual metal concentration of less than about 1000 ppm.
7 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes comprise a residual metal concentration of less than about 100 ppm.
8 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes are open ended.
9 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes are at least partially surface modified or coated with at least one surfactant or at least one modifier.
10 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes are completely surface modified or coated with at least one surfactant or at least one modifier.
11 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 9 , wherein the surfactant or modifier is hydrogen bonded, covalently bonded, or ionically bonded to the discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes.
12 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 9 , wherein said modifier or surfactant is chemically bonded to said epoxy, said nanotube fiber, or both.
13 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 , wherein said composite has a fatigue crack failure resistance of at least 2 to about 20 times the fatigue crack failure resistance of the epoxy tested without carbon nanotubes.
14 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 , wherein said composite has a coefficient of expansion in at least one dimension of at least ⅔ to ⅓ that of the epoxy tested without carbon nanotubes in the same dimension.
15 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the composite is bonded to a substrate.
16 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 15 , wherein said composite has an adhesive or cohesive strength of at least two times greater that of the material bonded to the substrate without carbon nanotubes.
17 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 bonded to a substrate, wherein said composite has an adhesive or cohesive strength of at least two times greater that of the epoxy without carbon nanotubes tested similarly.
18 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes comprise multi-wall discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes.
19 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 10 , wherein the surfactant or modifier is covalently bonded to the carbon nanotubes.
20 . The epoxy/nanotube composite of claim 1 wherein the composite is attached to a substrate.