Dispersion patterns of graphene and carbon nanotubes in ceramic matrix composites

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2011.06.047
• Publication Date: 2011-06-26T01:28:20Z
• Authors: Orsolya Tapasztó; Levente Tapasztó; Márton Markó; Frank Kern; Rainer Gadow; Csaba Balázsi
• Keywords: Ceramic matrix composite; Carbon fibers

Abstract The dispersion properties of mechanically exfoliated few layer graphene flakes within the silicon nitride ceramic matrix have been compared with those of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Small angle neutron scattering experiments have been involved to provide information on the dispersion of the nano-scale carbon fillers throughout the entire volume of the samples. The neutron scattering data revealed a strikingly different distribution pattern for graphene and nanotubes in the ceramic matrix. While carbon nanotubes were found to be present mainly in the form of small aggregate structures, few-layer graphene flakes have been uniformly dispersed, under the same processing conditions. The observed dispersion properties have also been correlated with the mechanical properties of the resulting composites.