Synthetic and Property Measurement Studies of Some Nanoparticles and Their Composites With Carbon Nanotube

Abstract

In this thesis, CNT reinforced nanocomposites have been fabricated using an newlineinnovative physical mixing method. These nanocomposites have emerged as a newlinenew class of functional materials to overcome the limitations of the conventional newlinematerials. newlineSince their discovery by Ijjima in 1991, CNTs have created numerous newlineopportunities for researchers to use them in the fabrication of multifunctional newlinematerials for high end applications. CNTs possess extraordinary mechanical, newlineelectrical, thermal, optical and catalytic properties. These unrivalled properties newlinemake CNTs ideal reinforcement material to tailor properties of metallic and newlineceramic matrices. newlineIn the present study, silver, magnesia and alumina nanoparticles have been newlinesynthesized. Silver, magnesia and alumina nanoparticles are then separately newlinereinforced with carbon nanotubes using physical mixing method to fabricate newlineCNT/silver, CNT/magnesia and CNT/alumina nanopowders respectively. newlineElemental composition of the nanocomposites is confirmed using electron newlinedispersive spectroscopy. The phase identification in the composite is carried out newlineusing X-ray diffraction of the nanocomposites. Morphology of the samples has newlinebeen analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Existence of CNT-matrix newlineinterface has been elucidated using transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, newlinestructural features of the CNTs have been analyzed using FTIR and Raman newlinespectroscopy. Raman spectrum indicated the creation of defects on CNT surface newlineduring ultrasonication. newlineThe reinforcing effects of CNT on mechanical, electrical and thermal properties newlineof CNT/silver, CNT/magnesia nanocomposites and mechanical as well as thermal newlineproperties of CNT/alumina have been evaluated. Mechanical properties namely newlinehardness and modulus of the elasticity of the fabricated nanocomposites has been newlineanalyzed with reference to variations in volume content of CNT and type of CNT newlinereinforcement. newlineElectrical conductivity of the CNT/silver and CNT/magnesia composites has also newlinebeen analyzed.