Evaluation of the effect of MWCNT amount and dispersion on bending fatigue properties of non-crimp CFRP composites

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have many unique features that improve composite material properties, including a large surface area, thermal and chemical stability, and thermal and electrical conductivity. Our study aimed to examine the influence of MWCNT weight percentage on the fatigue characteristics of a polymer matrix composite strengthened with carbon fiber in fabric form. This study aimed to explore the additional properties and functions of these MWCNTs. For the experiments, MWCNTs were prepared by mixing them in solution with epoxy in three different weight percentages (0.5 %, 1.0%, and 1.5%) using a surfactant, and at 0.5 wt% without a surfactant. The prepared solutions were injected into four-axis non-crimp carbon fiber fabric plates via the vacuity mixture method and then cured for 48 h to produce nanocomposite plates. Using five types of composites, fatigue tests were carried out at six different amplitudes and a fixed frequency. Fatigue test specimens were subjected to detailed SEM analysis of their fatigue fracture surfaces. The investigational results revealed that the 0.5 wt% MWCNT epoxy solution had been homogeneously dispersed and exhibited the highest absorbance spectrum. The 0.5 wt% MWCNT specimen achieved the highest value in the fatigue life experiments. In addition, electron microscopy studies of the fracture surfaces of the test specimens determined that individual COOH-MWCNTs interrelated with the fibers and formed a bridge between fiber and matrix, whereas agglomerations caused weak bonding between the reinforcement fibers and matrix, making the material more brittle.