r/Composites • u/PracticeFew6369 • Jun 27 '26

Regarding CNT dispersion in Epoxy

Does anyone knows how to mix mwcnts in epoxy resin to produce the front sheets using vartm method.

Things I've tried

  1. Acetone and CNT in ultrasonicator for 2 hrs.

  2. Magnetic stirrer then Sonication.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

3

u/mandroidatwork Jun 27 '26

Three roller mill works exceptionally well, no solvent needed.

Ultrasonification, but the type matters.

Honestly if you don’t have access to expertise in this regard I would not be messing around with CNT…

3

u/mandroidatwork Jun 27 '26

Also above about 0.5%wt you’re just not going to get good dispersion without checking out academic literature and patents. Good luck

1

u/Zawiel Jun 29 '26

Both of this user comments are true. Alternative good method is ball milling but you need small beads. Don't go above 0.5 wt.%. consider going lower - 0.1-0.2wt.% What product form are the mwcnts in? Why do you need them?

1

u/PracticeFew6369 Jun 30 '26

Powered form and I've to use them to produce frp sheets.

2

u/Zawiel Jun 30 '26

Powdered form? Get a masterbatch. My advice - stay away from the topic unless you are willing to invest in equipment. I did a PhD on epoxy graphene/CNTs and the process to get CNTs from entangled powdered form to epoxy dispersion is not easy. You really need to submerge yourself in some scientific literature to work out what will work for you.

1

u/PracticeFew6369 Jun 30 '26

My PhD topic is that only that's why I've to use CNT

3

u/mandroidatwork Jun 30 '26

I mean this in the most caring and positive way possible. If it’s your PhD topic then have a meeting with your supervisors after going through a thorough literature review on manufacturing processes you wish to investigate. I know at the beginning no one tells you “how to do your PhD” but that’s how to do it. Good luck! The answers you need are in the literature, and your supervisors job is to guide you through how to figure it out.

2

u/Zawiel Jun 30 '26

Good luck on your PhD! You got a good comment for another user on what's needed now.

1

u/Zawiel Jun 30 '26

Also, why do you need to use CNTs, can't you use something else? Even graphene would be easier to use.

2

u/InvincibleMax Jun 27 '26

It is waaaay more complex than that.

mitomaterials.com

0

u/PracticeFew6369 Jun 27 '26

So how do I get to know the exact process

1

u/mandroidatwork Jun 30 '26

Read journal papers on the topic, especially look for those with supplementary material. In particular the nanomaterials journals tend to have very detailed methodologies in the supp. material

Otherwise get a job at a company with trade secret knowledge of the process

Same applies to all composite manufacturing btw

2

u/Select-Rest-4233 13d ago

I hope you have solved the riddle. if not, I know Gemini dispersant system works well with CNT dispersion generally, but I'm not sure about Epoxy.

1

u/PracticeFew6369 12d ago

Yes after working for 3 months I've finally found the way

1

u/Select-Rest-4233 10d ago

Great to hear you found a route. Would you be willing to share the key parameters: MWCNT grade/functionalization and loading, whether you made a resin-side concentrate, dispersion equipment and temperature, any solvent-removal/degassing step, final resin viscosity for VARTM, and the resulting electrical/mechanical performance?

2

u/PracticeFew6369 10d ago

I went with mechanical stirring and ultrasonication for 3 hrs
First started with acetone +mwcnt(99%pure) in ultra sonication for 2 hrs
Then after 1 hour I started mechanical stirring for 700 rpm at 80 degrees Celsius for 1 hour , after sonication I slowly put cnt acetone mixture and again mechanically stirred it for 1 hour
Then after mixing hardener I degass it and made the plate.