L L Lebel et al 2009 J. Micromech. Microeng. 19 125009 doi:10.1088/0960-1317/19/12/125009
L L Lebel1, B Aïssa2, O A Paez1, M A El Khakani2 and D Therriault1
Show affiliationsThree-dimensional (3D) micro structured beams reinforced with a single-walled carbon nanotube (C-SWNT)/polymer nanocomposite were fabricated using an approach based on the infiltration of 3D microfluidic networks. The 3D microfluidic network was first fabricated by the direct-write assembly method, which consists of the robotized deposition of fugitive ink filaments on an epoxy substrate, forming thereby a 3D micro structured scaffold. After encapsulating the 3D micro-scaffold structure with an epoxy resin, the fugitive ink was liquefied and removed, resulting in a 3D network of interconnected microchannels. This microfluidic network was then infiltrated by a polymer loaded with C-SWNTs and subsequently cured. Prior to their incorporation in the polymer matrix, the UV-laser synthesized C-SWNTs were purified, functionalized and dispersed into the matrix using a three-roll mixing mill. The final samples consist of rectangular beams having a complex 3D skeleton structure of C-SWNT/polymer nanocomposite fibers, adapted to offer better performance under flexural solicitation. Dynamic mechanical analysis in flexion showed an increase of 12.5% in the storage modulus compared to the resin infiltrated beams. The nanocomposite infiltration of microfluidic networks demonstrated here opens new prospects for the achievement of 3D reinforced micro structures.
07.10.Cm Micromechanical devices and systems
81.05.Tp Fullerenes and related materials
81.05.Qk Reinforced polymers and polymer-based composites
81.16.-c Methods of nanofabrication and processing
85.85.+j Micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) and devices
Soft matter, liquids and polymers
Instrumentation and measurement
Issue 12 (December 2009)
Received 13 May 2009, in final form 15 September 2009
Published 22 October 2009
L L Lebel et al 2009 J. Micromech. Microeng. 19 125009
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