ECCM18 - 18 th European Conference on Composite Materials Athens, Greece, 24-28 th June 2018 1 T. Glaskova-Kuzmina, A. Aniskevich, J. Sevcenko, A. Borriello and M.Zarrelli MOISTURE SORPTION BY EPOXY RESIN FILLED WITH MWCNT OF DIFFERENT THICKNESS T. Glaskova-Kuzmina 1 , A. Aniskevich 1 , J. Sevcenko 1 , A. Borriello 2 , and M. Zarrelli 2 1 Institute for Mechanics of Materials, University of Latvia, Aizkraukles 23, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia Emails: tatjana.glaskova@pmi.lu.lv, andrey.aniskevich@pmi.lu.lv, evgs@inbox.lv, www.pmi.lv 2 Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Piazzale Enrico Fermi, Granatello, Portici, 80055, Italy Emails: anna.borriello@cnr.it, mauro.zarrelli@cnr.it, www.ipcb.cnr.it Keywords: moisture sorption, epoxy, multiwall carbon nanotubes, dynamic mechanical properties, glass transition temperature Abstract The aim of this work was to determine the effect of environmental ageing on sorption and thermophysical characteristics of epoxy and epoxy-based nanocomposites (NC) filled with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with different thicknesses. Two types of MWCNT with average diameter of 140 (aspect ratio - 50) and 9.5 (aspect ratio - 150) nm, respectively, were used. The considered filler content was within the range 0.005-0.1 wt. % for thin and 0.5-2 wt. % for thick MWCNT. For epoxy and NC specimens the moisture absorption and resorption after desorption in silica gel were performed in atmospheres with 47, 73, and 91% RH at room temperature. Dynamic thermal mechanical analysis was employed to evaluate hygrothermal ageing effects in as-produced and “aged” NC samples after moisture ab/de-sorption. It was experimentally confirmed that the equilibrium moisture content of the NC decreased with filler content for both MWCNT if compared to the neat epoxy resin. The diffusion coefficients for NC filled with 0.1 and 2 wt. % of MWCNT were reduced by 17 and 20%, accordingly. The improved environmental stability of the NC was explained by the reduction of free volume and restriction of polymer chain mobility due to addition of MWCNT to epoxy resin. 1. Introduction Extensive research on development of multifunctional polymer composites incorporating carbonaceous nanofillers, such as single- and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) [1], graphene nanoparticles [2], and carbon nanofibers [3] is on-going. The interest of using these nanofillers arises due to unique combination of their mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, which may allow significant weight savings for the products in comparison with micro-filled composites. Composites modified by CNT allow tuning the final material properties by changing nanoparticle concentration, and their morphology [4]. CNT have unique mechanical properties like stiffness and strength, respectively, within the range of 100-1000 GPa and 2.5-3.5 GPa, and electrical conductivity of 3000-4000 S/m, thus, making them valuable candidates to develop novel composites characterized as advanced polymer materials [5]. However, up to now such materials are mostly limited to indoor applications due to relative sensitivity of mechanical properties of polymers and polymer composites to the action of environmental conditions, such as moisture and temperature [6]. The consideration of environmental effects and the