Electrical Resistance Sensing of Epoxy Curing Using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Yarn

Curing effects were investigated by using the electrical response of a single carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY) embedded in an epoxy resin during the polymerization process. Two epoxy resins of different viscosities and curing temperatures were investigated, varying also the concentration of the curing ag...

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Main Authors: Omar Rodríguez-Uicab, Jandro L. Abot, Francis Avilés
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/11/3230
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author Omar Rodríguez-Uicab
Jandro L. Abot
Francis Avilés
author_facet Omar Rodríguez-Uicab
Jandro L. Abot
Francis Avilés
author_sort Omar Rodríguez-Uicab
collection DOAJ
description Curing effects were investigated by using the electrical response of a single carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY) embedded in an epoxy resin during the polymerization process. Two epoxy resins of different viscosities and curing temperatures were investigated, varying also the concentration of the curing agent. It is shown that the kinetics of resin curing can be followed by using the electrical response of an individual CNTY embedded in the resin. The electrical resistance of an embedded CNTY increased (~9%) after resin curing for an epoxy resin cured at 130 °C with viscosity of ~59 cP at the pouring/curing temperature (“Epon 862”), while it decreased (~ −9%) for a different epoxy cured at 60 °C, whose viscosity is about double at the corresponding curing temperature. Lowering the curing temperature from 60 °C to room temperature caused slower and smoother changes of electrical resistance over time and smaller (positive) residual resistance. Increasing the concentration of the curing agent caused a faster curing kinetics and, consequently, more abrupt changes of electrical resistance over time, with negative residual electrical resistance. Therefore, the resin viscosity and curing kinetics play a paramount role in the CNTY wicking, wetting and resin infiltration processes, which ultimately govern the electrical response of the CNTY immersed into epoxy.
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spelling doaj.art-2377cd23e99641a39b7956fb5b33eb262023-11-20T03:01:53ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202020-06-012011323010.3390/s20113230Electrical Resistance Sensing of Epoxy Curing Using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube YarnOmar Rodríguez-Uicab0Jandro L. Abot1Francis Avilés2Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USACentro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Unidad de Materiales, Calle 43 No. 130 x 32 y 34 Col, Chuburna de Hidalgo, 97205 Mérida, MexicoCuring effects were investigated by using the electrical response of a single carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY) embedded in an epoxy resin during the polymerization process. Two epoxy resins of different viscosities and curing temperatures were investigated, varying also the concentration of the curing agent. It is shown that the kinetics of resin curing can be followed by using the electrical response of an individual CNTY embedded in the resin. The electrical resistance of an embedded CNTY increased (~9%) after resin curing for an epoxy resin cured at 130 °C with viscosity of ~59 cP at the pouring/curing temperature (“Epon 862”), while it decreased (~ −9%) for a different epoxy cured at 60 °C, whose viscosity is about double at the corresponding curing temperature. Lowering the curing temperature from 60 °C to room temperature caused slower and smoother changes of electrical resistance over time and smaller (positive) residual resistance. Increasing the concentration of the curing agent caused a faster curing kinetics and, consequently, more abrupt changes of electrical resistance over time, with negative residual electrical resistance. Therefore, the resin viscosity and curing kinetics play a paramount role in the CNTY wicking, wetting and resin infiltration processes, which ultimately govern the electrical response of the CNTY immersed into epoxy.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/11/3230carbon nanotube yarnelectrical resistancecuring effectsthermosetting matrixepoxy
spellingShingle Omar Rodríguez-Uicab
Jandro L. Abot
Francis Avilés
Electrical Resistance Sensing of Epoxy Curing Using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Yarn
Sensors
carbon nanotube yarn
electrical resistance
curing effects
thermosetting matrix
epoxy
title Electrical Resistance Sensing of Epoxy Curing Using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Yarn
title_full Electrical Resistance Sensing of Epoxy Curing Using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Yarn
title_fullStr Electrical Resistance Sensing of Epoxy Curing Using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Yarn
title_full_unstemmed Electrical Resistance Sensing of Epoxy Curing Using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Yarn
title_short Electrical Resistance Sensing of Epoxy Curing Using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Yarn
title_sort electrical resistance sensing of epoxy curing using an embedded carbon nanotube yarn
topic carbon nanotube yarn
electrical resistance
curing effects
thermosetting matrix
epoxy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/11/3230
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AT jandrolabot electricalresistancesensingofepoxycuringusinganembeddedcarbonnanotubeyarn
AT francisaviles electricalresistancesensingofepoxycuringusinganembeddedcarbonnanotubeyarn