Influence of diaminobenzoyl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the nonisothermal curing kinetics, dynamic mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity of epoxy–anhydride composites

To obtain advanced materials with a high thermal dissipation, the addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes containing diverse functionality groups, that is, as-received multiwalled carbon nanotubes (AS-MWCNTs) and diaminobenzoyl multiwalled carbon nanotubes (DA-MWCNTs), to epoxy–anhydride composites was accomplished. According to nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry analysis, the reactive functional groups present on the surfaces of the AS-MWCNTs and DA-MWCNTs accelerated the nucleophilic addition reaction of epoxy composites. Because of the difference in the reactivities of these functional groups toward epoxy groups, the distinction of fractional conversion and the reaction rate of the curing process were remarkably evident at the early stage. A suitable kinetic model was effectively elucidated with the Málek approach. The curing kinetics could best be described by a two-parameter autocatalytic model as a truncated Šesták–Berggren model. The DA-MWCNTs achieved effective load transfer and active heat conductive pathways; this resulted in good dynamic mechanical and thermal properties. As a result, the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A/DA-MWCNTs constituted an effective system with enhanced heat dissipation of materials for electronic applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43567.