TY - JOUR A1 - Nie, Yaru A1 - Hübert, Thomas T1 - Effect of carbon nanofiber (CNF) silanization on the properties of CNF/epoxy nanocomposites JF - Polymer International N2 - Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were functionalized by a multistage process including oxidation, reduction and silanization. The chemical modifications were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The silanized CNFs were then added into an epoxy resin (EPON 828) to study the effect of the surface modification of CNFs on the properties of nanocomposites. For comparison, nanocomposites containing original unmodified CNFs were also investigated. Scanning electron microscopy indicates better dispersion of modified fibers in the epoxy polymer matrix; the mechanical and thermal properties of composites are also improved; the electrical conductivity of the composites is reduced. KW - Carbon nanofibers KW - Epoxy composites KW - Silanization KW - Electrical conductivity KW - Thermal conductivity KW - Mechanical properties PY - 2011 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.3124 SN - 0959-8103 SN - 1097-0126 SN - 0007-1641 VL - 60 IS - 11 SP - 1574 EP - 1580 PB - Wiley InterScience CY - Chichester, West Sussex AN - OPUS4-25865 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -