Title: Comparison of Ultrasound-Hot Plate and High-Shear Centrifugal Mixing Techniques for Fabricating CNT-Reinforced Nanocomposite Panels

Authors: Jacky Liang, Wyatt Barnes, Ramanan Sritharan

DOI:

Abstract: Nanomaterials have found widespread applications, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in structural applications, which have gained significant traction over the past few decades. Numerous experimental and analytical studies have demonstrated that incorporating CNTs into an epoxy matrix can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of the composite. This study evaluates and compares the effectiveness of nanocomposite panels fabricated using two different fabrication techniques: ultrasonication combined with a hot plate process, and the highshear centrifugal mixing method. The primary objective of the research is to investigate the impact of these processing methods on the dispersion of CNTs, uniformity of the composite matrix, and overall performance characteristics of the nanocomposite panels. The ultrasonication and hot plate method uses high-frequency sound waves to disperse CNTs into ethyl alcohol, followed by heat-induced magnetic stirring to evenly mix the CNTs with epoxy. On the other hand, the high-shear mixer employs high-shear forces to achieve CNT dispersion in epoxy in a more controlled manner. The samples fabricated using two different methods will be assessed through open hole tension test per ASTM standard D5766/D5766M – 23 and compared on important mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, and strain at failure. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how each processing technique influences the mechanical properties of nanocomposite panels. The results will offer valuable insights for optimizing the fabrication of nanocomposite panels

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Conference: SAMPE 2026

Publication Date: 2026/04/27

SKU: 93

Pages: 15

Price: $30.00