Alignment of Carbon Nanofibers in an Uncured Polymer using Traveling Electric Field

Abstract

In this study, dispersed carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in an uncured epoxy resin have been aligned by applying traveling electric field in a multiple electrode. In the multiple electrode, two ctenoid-shape electrodes were symmetrically located. The dispersed CNFs in the long and narrow space between the ctenoid-shape electrodes were aligned to the longitudinal direction of the space. Same voltages were applied to opposite electrode pairs. The applied voltages were successively and cyclically switched to the longitudinal direction. In this way, the traveling electric field was applied to the CNFs/uncured epoxy resin suspension. Before the experiment, the shape and arrangement of the electrodes in the multiple electrode and the voltage application schedule to the electrode pairs were designed. Static electric fields at steps in the voltage application schedule were calculated by using 2D FEM. The obtained static electric fields were substituted into the predictive model proposed by one of the authors. The model gives aligned CNFs direction and magnitude of the moment applied to the CNFs by applying traveling electric field. Furthermore, influences on the CNFs alignment of the applied voltages and the arrangement of the electrodes were clarified.