POS3-0805
Enhanced impregnation of CNT film-based composite via electrochemical processing
Topic
S3. Processing / Fabrications (Emerging Horizons in Polymer Processing and Fabrication)
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
TAE KYEOM KIM (Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely recognized as promising reinforcements for composites owing to their excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. In recent years, substantial efforts have focused on the fabrication of high CNT-content composites using macroscopic CNT assemblies such as CNT fibers and CNT films. However, the densely packed structure and poor resin affinity of CNT films impede resin impregnation, increasing processing complexity and ultimately limiting composites performance.
In this study, we propose an electrolysis-assisted strategy in which hydrogen bubbles generated on the surfaces of CNT bundle induce non-destructive inter-bundle expansion. Subsequently, polydopamine (PDA) was polymerized via electrical oxidation on both the surface and within the internal pores of the expanded CNT film to enhance the interfacial bonding of CNT film to the matrix. Using the treated CNT film, we successfully fabricated CNT film-based composites through vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding and a stepwise compression process.
The tensile tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of improved resin impregnation on the mechanical properties of the composites. A pronounced 84% increase in strength was observed for composites when PDA was electrically polymerized on both the outer and inner regions of the CNT film, compared with pristine CNT film-based composites. This enhancement was attributed to improved interfacial bonding among the CNT film, PDA layer, and polymer matrix. Moreover, improved resin impregnation within the cross-section of composite was confirmed by SEM. The treated CNT film-based composite exhibited a more uniform resin distribution and shorter pull-out bundles throughout the internal structure. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach improves resin impregnation within the CNT film and is expected to serve as a promising strategy for the fabrication of CNT film-based composites in future applications.
In this study, we propose an electrolysis-assisted strategy in which hydrogen bubbles generated on the surfaces of CNT bundle induce non-destructive inter-bundle expansion. Subsequently, polydopamine (PDA) was polymerized via electrical oxidation on both the surface and within the internal pores of the expanded CNT film to enhance the interfacial bonding of CNT film to the matrix. Using the treated CNT film, we successfully fabricated CNT film-based composites through vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding and a stepwise compression process.
The tensile tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of improved resin impregnation on the mechanical properties of the composites. A pronounced 84% increase in strength was observed for composites when PDA was electrically polymerized on both the outer and inner regions of the CNT film, compared with pristine CNT film-based composites. This enhancement was attributed to improved interfacial bonding among the CNT film, PDA layer, and polymer matrix. Moreover, improved resin impregnation within the cross-section of composite was confirmed by SEM. The treated CNT film-based composite exhibited a more uniform resin distribution and shorter pull-out bundles throughout the internal structure. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach improves resin impregnation within the CNT film and is expected to serve as a promising strategy for the fabrication of CNT film-based composites in future applications.
