Effects of introducing CNTs and GPLs on mechanical, modal, thermal, and water uptake properties of twill basalt fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites

Abstract

The current study investigates the effect of the addition of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene platelets (GPLs) on the mechanical, dynamic, viscoelastic, and water uptake properties of basalt fiber-reinforced epoxy (BFE) composites. The results show that the addition of nanoparticles in small concentrations improves the mechanical properties including the modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, flexural modulus, strength, and interlaminar shear strength of BFEs. Moreover, the filling of nanofillers in small concentrations increases the natural frequency and decreases the damping factor. Based on the viscoelastic test results, the addition of CNTs and GPLs in small concentrations improves the viscoelastic properties such as the storage modulus, loss modulus, damping ratio, thermal stability, and thermal conductivity. The filling of CNTs in small concentrations increases the hydrophilic nature. The addition of GPL nanoparticles affects the BFE water uptake characteristics similar to the addition of CNTs. It is worth mentioning that the addition of such nanoparticles in higher concentrations affects the mechanical, modal, and viscoelastic properties of the composites unfavorably.