Nanostructured polymer composites have opened up new perspectives for multi-functional materials. In particular, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have the potential applications in order to improve mechanical and electrical performance in composites with aerospace application. This study focuses on the viscoelastic evaluation of phenolic resin reinforced carbon nanotubes, processed by using two techniques: aqueous-surfactant solution and three roll calender (TRC) process. According to our results a relative small amount of CNTs in a phenolic resin matrix is capable of enhancing the viscoelastic properties significantly and to modify the thermal stability. Also has been observed that when is used TRC process, the incorporation and distribution of CNT into phenolic resin is more effective when compared with aqueous solution dispersion process

A capacidade de controlar a dispersão de nanotubos de carbono (CNT) em polímeros é considerada ponto chave para a maioria das aplicações de compósitos de nanotubo/polímero. A dispersão de nanotubos de carbono em água com diferentes surfactantes, assim como sua incorporação em resinas fenólicas, foi investigada. Ultrasonicação de suspenções líquidas foi usada para preparar dispersões estáveis. A fim de se avaliar o melhor surfactante a ser usado, espalhamento de luz e espectroscopia UV-Visível foram empregados. A estrutura de CNT reforçada de resina fenólica foi analisada em função da concentração e tipo de surfactante, potência e tempo de sonicação. A influência da dispersão pelo uso das propriedades de transição de temperatura vítrea também foi avaliada, sendo obtida por análise mecânica dinâmica e energia de impacto.

The ability to control the carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersion in polymers is considered the key to most applications of nanotube/polymer composites. The carbon nanotube dispersion into water with different surfactants, as well as its incorporation into phenolic resins, was investigated. Ultrasonication of liquid suspensions was used to prepare stable dispersions. In order to evaluate the best surfactant to be used, light scattering and UV-Visible spectroscopy were employed. The structure of CNT reinforced of phenolic resin was analyzed in function of the concentration and type of surfactant, sonication power and time. It was also evaluated the influence in the dispersion by using the glass temperature transition properties being obtained by dynamic mechanical analyses and impact energy.