2.1 Nanomaterial solutions and bubble expansion
A homogeneous solution consisting of a specific nanomaterial
uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin was prepared by functionalization
of the nanomaterial surface and then mixing with epoxy.
For example, purified SWNTs (Carbon Solutions, Inc.) were
functionalized with octadecylamine (ODA),38 and then a known
mass of the ODA–SWNTs dispersed in tetrahydrofuran (THF)
was transferred to a known mass of epoxy resin (Fig. 2a), and
then mixed until homogeneous. The mixture was stirred to
achieve a uniform solution, and hardener was added, and the
mixture was capped and allowed to cure (i.e., polymerize) until
the viscosity increased to a range, 15–25 Pa s, suitable for