Effect of 1D carbon nano- tube and fiber reinforcement on the long-term creep performance of glass fiber/epoxy composite using the time-temperature superposition principle

Abstract

In this article, one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotube (CNT) and carbon nanofiber (CNF) is added to glass fiber/epoxy (GE) composite in an attempt to improve its life-long creep resistance. Accelerated deformation of GE and both nanofiller reinforced GE (CNT-GE and CNF-GE) composite were done in 30–120 °C temperature span, and the long-term creep behavior was evaluated by implementing time–temperature superposition principle at 30 °C and 90 °C reference temperature (RT). CNT-GE and CNF-GE composite showed positive creep compliance till ∼109.5 and ∼104.5 years, respectively, at RT of 30 °C as compared to GE composite. However, at a RT of 90 °C, positive creep compliance duration was reduced to ∼800 for CNT-GE and ∼8 days for CNF-GE composite. The creep resistance of both nanofiller reinforced GE composites was highly temperature-sensitive due to an increase in heterogeneity in the composite with second phase nano reinforcement addition. Higher specific surface area and strength of CNTs than CNFs produced better creep resistance in GE composite at lower temperatures.