Design and Control of a Micro/Nano Load Stage for In-Situ AFM Observation and Nanoscale Structural and Mechanical Characterization of MWCNT-Epoxy Composites

• Main Author: Leininger, Wyatt C.
• Format: Others
• Published: North Dakota State University 2018
• Subjects: Atomic force microscopy; Epoxy compounds; Nanocomposites (Materials)
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10365/28190

Nanomaterial composites hold improvement potential for many materials. Improvements arise through known material behaviors and unique nanoscale effects to improve performance in areas including elastic modulus and damping as well as various processes, and products. Review of research spurred development of a load-stage. The load stage could be used independently, or in conjunction with an AFM to investigate bulk and nanoscale material mechanics. The effect of MWCNT content on structural damping, elastic modulus, toughness, loss modulus, and glass transition temperature was investigated using the load stage, AMF, and DMA. Initial investigation showed elastic modulus increased 23% with 1wt.% MWCNT versus pure epoxy and in-situ imaging observed micro/nanoscale deformation. Dynamic capabilities of the load stage were investigated as a method to achieve higher stress than available through DMA. The system showed energy dissipation across all reinforce levels, with ~480% peak for the 1wt.% MWCNT material vs. the neat epoxy at 1Hz. === ND NASA EPSCoR FAR0017788 === NDSU Development Foundation FAR0017503 === National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant# HRD-0811239 to the NDSU Advance FORWARD Program