Publication

Abstract : Polymeric nanocomposites have received immense attention in the recent years. This is because of remarkable improvement in all area at very low filler level as compared to macrocomposites.High temperature composites are a great deal of interest for aerospace industry which is the largest beneficiary of composites development. Thermosetting resins are mostly used in composite manufacturing dominated by epoxy at the moment.Polyimides are also now in use but still limited due to high temperature and pressure processing and cost limitation. Bismaleimide is a high temperature thermoset having stability at elevated temperature, low volatiles, high strength and low shrinkage as compared to epoxy .Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have demonstrated remarkable mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, showing as promising filler for high performance polymer matrix. Dispersion of CNTs is a great problem to be addressed yet and technology is still evolving. In this study carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are used with a novel high temperature bismaleimide in order to make a high temperature nanocomposite.A high quality thermokinetic mixing device, gelimat blender is udsed.Two concentrations of CNFs 1-2wt%are taken for this study. The dispersion is characterized by SEM and TEM which shows a uniform dispersion of the CNFs overall. Thermal analysis is carried out by TGA, and DMTA. An increase in thermal decomposition and glass transition temperature is observed. Mechanical strength has shown reverse effect.