To Optimize the Mechanical Properties of Double Wall Carbon Nano Tube Using Response Surface Methodology

Today?s Carbon nano-tubes is the most necessary and leading material due to their extraordinary mechanical and electrical properties. The main purpose of this project is to examine the DWCNTs structure on mechanical properties of CNTs fill nano-composite. The most common methodology to get the DWCNT

Project Title

Project Area of Specialization

Mechanical Engineering

Project Summary

Today’s Carbon nano-tubes is the most necessary and leading material due to their extraordinary mechanical and electrical properties. The main purpose of this project is to examine the DWCNTs structure on mechanical properties of CNTs fill nano-composite. The most common methodology to get the DWCNTs is that the solution process technique which supplies well distributed CNTs. the solution was ready through CNTs powder as a matter and NMP as a solvent. This solution was stirrer by using heating magnetic stirrer. The filtration method was done by using Nylon paper in vacuum filtration assembly for the separation from NMP solvent. When separation CNTs were collected on paper and paper was dried. Then dried paper dissolved in THF to get CNTs and THF resolution. A small compact particle of polyurethane was regenerated into mix polymer by heating. Then Response Surface Methodology (RSM) technique is employed, to get many variables and wt. this era of CNTs and polymer that are affecting the mechanical properties and validate these with experimentation. By using the wt. you got by Response Surface Methodology, totally different samples of CNTs stuffed polyurethane composite were obtained. Some tests were performed to examine mechanical and micro-structural properties of samples by using Universal Testing Machine (UTM), X-rays optical phenomenon (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). These tests disclosed that the mechanical and micro-structural of DWCNTs reinforced polyurethane Nano-Composites were optimized.

Project Objectives

Polyurethane is a versatile material that seems in a very large amount of everyday home goods and machinery. Its several advantages over different artificial materials. It is so versatile that it's usually utilized in products that are designed for human comfort and relaxation. At an equivalent time, it's therefore sturdy that it can be utilized in tires for heavy machinery. It is also a “green” material, because it usually helps cut emissions through its insulating potential. Carbon nanotubes are thought-about to be ideal candidates for rising the mechanical properties of polymer nano-composite scaffolds because of their higher expanse, mechanical properties of three-dimensional isotropic structure, and physical properties.

Project Implementation Method

To synthesize DWCNTs a solution of NMP and powder CNTs is contrived. The solution is stirred for about 40 minutes, using heating magnetic stirrer to get well dispersed CNTs. To separate the CNTs and NMP in contrived solution, a filtration process is done. Vaporization of NMP requires filter paper to be heated to 60°C and CNTs will be left on filter paper. After removal of NMP then filter paper is dissolved into THF to obtain CNTs according to weight difference of filter paper. Filter paper are removed from THF and CNTs are left.

Methodology for CNTs/Polyurethane Nano-composites:

Samples were prepared by mixing CNTs into blend of polyurethane. Mixing was done according to the requirements of the samples obtained from the response surface methodology method.

After the preparation of the of different solution for sample, these different solution samples were individually stirred .The stirrer process was to make the homogeneous mixture of DWCNTs and polyurethane. After stirring samples were poured into Petri dishes and allowed them to dry for 12 hrs.
at room temperature.

Benefits of the Project

The investigation on the mechanical properties showed that the Strength to weight ratio of Polyurethane nano-composites could be obviously increased by adding wt. % (by weight) CNT to the polyurethane. Flexible Polyurethane is used extensively in transportation industry for interior panels.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

In this project samples of DWCNTs Polyurathane Composites are created by applying Response Surface Methodology and are tested to check whether their mechanical properties and strenght to weight ratio is increased or not. The final composite would have increased mechanical properties. As one of the application of this product is automobiles so having increased strenght to weight ratio will reduce the weight of automobiles, making them consume less fuel and increasing the overall efficiency.