Investigation of Impact and After-Impact Properties of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites Modified with Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified carbon fibers-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites was prepared used the MWCNTs/CFs hybrid fibers as reinforcement, MWCNTs modified epoxy resin as matrix material. Subsequently, the MWCNTs modified CFRP were subjected to low-energy impact and directly compared with the unmodified ones to investigate the influence of adding MWCNTs on the impact and after-impact behavior of CFRP composites. In terms of the impact performance, MWCNTs modified CFRP composites was observed for a little higher energy absorb than the reference CFRP. The damage area of MWCNTs modified CFRP less than that of reference CFRP's, which means the addition of MWCNTs plays an important role in preventing crack spread. Moreover, the after-impact properties were improved for both the compression modulus and the compression strength.