Investigation of fracture behavior and mechanical properties of epoxy composites supported with MWCNTs microscopically

Abstract

Adding of a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to epoxy resin has shown promising results in improving fracture toughness in bulk epoxy and carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (CFRP). using a hand layup proceeding followed by the so called vacuum bagging process method, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was added to an epoxy resin with a weight percentage mixing of 1% wt., 1.25% wt., and 1.5 % wt. MWCNTs. Furthermore, the specimen underwent analysis via Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, the composites were subjected to a microscopic examination using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). FTIR and XRD verified the folding and unfolding of the polymer, in addition, the mechanical properties including tensile strength, bending stress, and impact behavior were investigated as well as the hardness test. The obtained results showed a significant improvement of about (40 %) in tensile strength, (53 %) in bending stress at 1 % wt. MWCNTs, and (70 %) percentage increment in the strength of Impact at 1.25 % wt. MWCNTs. And the gained hardness was about 40.5 HV which were compared with a reference substance named Carbon Fiber (CF) without any addition of nano materials. Carbon nanotubes have demonstrated their potential to enhance the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced polymers, so this investigative study employs comprehensive characterization techniques, and demonstrates significant improvements in mechanical properties for the modified polymeric composite materials supported with nano materials.