Detection of Damage Initiation and Growth of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The effect of nano-deformation, damage and growth of carbon nanotubes (CNT's) reinforced polymer composites is investigated using electro-mechanical response at different loading conditions. Three different polymer systems namely epoxy, epoxy reinforced with gas bubbles (that induces porosity) and epoxy reinforced with Aluminum Silicate hollow microspheres (Cenospheres) are used in this study. CNT's of different weight percentages are loaded into above three polymer systems and a combination of shear mixing and ultrasonication processes are used to fabricate composites. A four-point probe method is used to measure high resolution electrical response when the above polymer systems are subjected to mechanical loads. The effect of various types of mechanical loading on different stages of deformation of test samples, onset of damage and growth as a function of either glass bubbles or cenospheres in epoxy are discussed using high-resolution electro-mechanical response of polymer systems.