Electric field alignment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes through curing of an epoxy matrix

The electrical alignment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in an epoxy resin was studied through curing using electrical measurements and optical microscopy. The epoxy system was composed by diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A and 4,4’-methylene bis-(3-chloro 2,6-diethylaniline). Long multi-walled carbon nanotubes were ultrasonically mixed with epoxy resin to form a 0.01 wt% MWCNT mixture. Samples were cured with alternating current electric fields applying different AC voltages. The electrical conductivity of the composite increased upon applied voltage as higher alignment of carbon nanotubes was achieved. The enhanced alignment was visualized by optical microscopy. Improvements in capacitance behaviour were also achieved with the highest value of current field.