Investigation of the influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on wear resistance of the road marking polymer paint

The paper is devoted to the modification of enamels for road marking on the basis of binding Akrokam-23 with multi-walled carbon nanotubes with an unmodified and oxidized surface. There are two methods to introduce nanotubes into the enamel traffic. One is to introduce nanotubes directly to the binder solution with intensive ultra-sonic dispersion. Another one is to obtain preliminarily dry powdered modifier (nanotubes concentrate in petroleum resin) which is soluble in road enamel. The aim of the investigation was to determine how method of introduction of nanotubes into enamel affects its wear resistance. Using method of thermogravimetric analysis the properties of MWCNTs concentrates in the petroleum resin have been studied. The tests of obtained enamels on the wear resistance showed that the direct introduction of MWCNTs in enamel for road marking gives much greater strengthening effect than the introduction of petroleum resin concentrate. However the direct introduction is characterized by numerous technological difficulties. Surface modified carbon nanotubes which were introduced through the concentrate LES do not affect the value of wear resistance but the initial nanotubes increase this value by 20%. In the present study it is shown that the dependence between abrasive wear and concentration of MWCNTs possess significant minimum. When the concentration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes equals to 0.001% the maximal increase of wear resistance (by 40%) can be achieved.