Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T02:16:11.784Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocomposite Thin Films for MEMS Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Kaushik Das
Affiliation:
[email protected], McGill University, Mechanical Engineering, Montreal, Canada
Cheol Park
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Virginia, United States
Rosemary Le Faive
Affiliation:
[email protected], McGill University, Mechanical Engineering, Montreal, Canada
Pascal Hubert
Affiliation:
[email protected], McGill University, Mechanical Engineering, Montreal, Canada
Srikar Vengallatore
Affiliation:
[email protected], McGill University, Mechanical Engineering, Montreal, Canada
Get access

Abstract

Reinforcement with nanotubes, nanofibers, and nanoparticles is an attractive option for enhancing the properties of micromachined polymeric structures employed in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Calculations based on Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka micromechanics predict that the elastic modulus and wave velocity can be increased by over an order of magnitude by reinforcing polymers with aligned, dispersed, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Motivated by this prediction, we measured the elastic moduli of polyimide films reinforced with SWNT at volume fractions ranging from 0 to 10%. For dilute composites, the elastic modulus increased with increasing nanotube loading from 2.5 GPa for the neat polymer to 3.5 GPa for a nanocomposite containing 0.5 vol% of SWNT. However, with further increase in the nanotube content, the elastic modulus remained essentially constant even for high loadings of 10 vol% of SWNT. In addition, significantly different elastic moduli were measured for specimens containing the same volume fraction (0.5 vol%) of SWNT produced by two different processes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Dawan, F. Jin, Y. Goettert, J. and Ibekwe, S. Microsyst. Technol. 14, pp. 14511459 (2008).Google Scholar
2 Jiguet, S. Bertsch, A. Judelewicz, M. Hofmann, H. and Renaud, P. Microelectron. Eng. 83, pp. 19661970 (2006).Google Scholar
3 Ashrafi, B. Hubert, P. and Vengallatore, S. Nanotechnology 17, pp. 48954903 (2006).Google Scholar
4 Park, C. Ounaies, Z. Watson, K. Crooks, R.E. Connell, J. Lowther, S.E. Siochi, E.J. Harrison, J.S. and St, T.L.. Clair, Chem. Phys. Lett. 364, pp. 303308 (2002).Google Scholar
5 Hubert, P. Ashrafi, B. Adhikari, K. Meredith, J. Vengallatore, S. Guan, J. and Simard, B. Compos. Sci. Technol. 69, pp. 22742280 (2009).Google Scholar
6 Scott, O.N. Begley, M.R. Komaragiri, U. and Mackin, T.J. Acta Mater. 52 (16), pp. 48774885 (2004).Google Scholar
7 Komaragiri, U. Begley, M.R. and Simmonds, J.G. J. Appl. Mech. 72 (2), pp. 203212 (2005).Google Scholar
8 Begley, M.R. and Mackin, T.J. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 52 (9), pp. 20052023 (2004).Google Scholar
9 Lillehei, P.T. Park, C. Kim, J.W. Gibbons, L.J. Wise, K.E. and Siochi, E.J. “Quantification of SWNT dispersion in polymer composites”, 3rd NASA-NIST workshop on nanotube measurement, Gaithersburg, MD Sept (2007). (invited lecture). http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20080013558_2008012916.pdfGoogle Scholar
10 Lillehei, P.T. Kim, J.W. Gibbons, L.J. and Park, C. Nanotechnology 20, 325708 (2009).Google Scholar