Fabrication and characterization of antistatic epoxy composite with multi-walled carbon nanotube-functionalized melamine foam.

A novel strategy for synthesizing an antistatic epoxy composite was carried out. Pre-embedded antistatic melamine foam was first synthesized and then used to prepare an antistatic epoxy composite. Azidized polyacrylic acid (APAA) was grafted onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (APAA-MWCNTs) by direct functional modification of the MWCNT sidewalls. Melamine was then covalently bonded to MWCNTs (MA-APAA-MWCNTs). The chemical structure of MA-APAA-MWCNTs was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, EDS, TGA, Raman spectroscopy, and TEM. As an antistatic agent, MA-APAA-MWCNTs utilized the functional groups of the surface to participate in the formation of melamine foam by reaction with paraformaldehyde. The surface resistivity was decreased to 3.6 × 10 Ω sq when the loading of MWCNTs was 2.4 kg m. The prepared antistatic foam at different compression ratios was immersed in epoxy resin, which was then cured. When the compression ratio reached 40%, the surface resistivity and volume resistivity, respectively, reached 1.05 × 10 Ω sq and 3.5 × 10 Ω cm, thereby achieving an antistatic effect.