Dynamic mechanical and impact properties of composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This study presents dynamic mechanical and impact properties of the new form of hybrid thermoplastic composites. The six composites of polyurethane/p-aramid multiaxial fabric forms (Kolon fabrics) were impregnated with 10 wt% poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB)/ethanol solution with the addition of pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) where the PVB/fabric ratio was 20 wt%. All the composites consisted of four layers of the impregnated fabrics. The MWCNT/PVB content was 0, 0.5 and 1 wt%. The surface of the three composites with different MWCNT/PVB content was modified with γ-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (AMEO silane)/ethanol solution. The physical and dynamic mechanical properties of the prepared composite samples were analyzed by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and high speed puncture impact tester. The structures of the composite samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the Kolon/AMEO/PVB/1 wt% MWCNT sample yielded a 60 % improvement in the storage modulus and a 73 % improvement in the impact absorbed energy compared to the Kolon/PVB sample. The carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were added to improve the dynamic mechanical and impact properties of the materials for ballistic protection.