writer：LC Tang, H Zhang, XP Wu, Z Zhang
keywords：Failure analysis, Carbon nanotubes, Epoxy
source：期刊
specific source：Polymer
Issue time：2011年
The failure analysis of reinforcing elements is of great significance to understand the structure-property relationship in polymer composites. Herein, we reported an improved methodology to ascertain and contrast the failure modes from one pair of homologous fracture surfaces of multi-walled carbon
nanotubes (MWCNTs)/epoxy samples at high-magnification using scanning electron microscopy. Three possible failure modes of MWCNTs, i.e. pullout, immediate fracture and sliding-fracture, were proposed to account for the fractographic observation. Based on this approach, the failure modes of MWCNTs before and after surface modification were quantitatively discussed.