Synergistic bridging effects of graphene oxide and carbon nanotube on mechanical properties of aramid fiber reinforced polycarbonate composite tape

Abstract

Here in, dynamic and static mechanical properties of aramid fiber (Kevlar®49) reinforced along with 1D multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), 2D graphene oxide (GO), 3D graphene-carbon nanotube (GCNT) nanofillers as secondary reinforcement were investigated experimentally. The K49 reinforced composite were fabricated using nanofiller dispersed resin transfer by vacuum impregnation and followed by compression molding technique. The 0.2 wt % of CNT, GO, and GCNT networked aramid reinforced polycarbonate composite (0.2CNT, 0.2GO, and 0.2GCNT) showed ~20%, ~26% and ~32% increased tensile strength respectively, as compared to baseline composite (i.e. without any nanofiller). The storage modulus of 0.2CNT, 0.2GO, and 0.2 GCNT reached to 4.8 GPa, 6.8 GPa and 7.8 GPa respectively, which showed an overall improvement of ~77%, ~151%, and ~188% respectively, over baseline composite. Apart from this, tan δ value of 0.2CNT, 0.2GO, and 0.2 GCNT also reached to 147 °C, 149.5 °C, and 158 °C which represent the shift of 5, 7.5, and 16° at higher temperature region as compared to baseline composite. The hybrid GCNT nanofiller inclusion demonstrate d the synergistic load transfer between adjacent aramid yarns in inter-wrap, inter-weft and wrap-weft direction by bridging action, results in increased tensile properties along with superior interfacial adhesion. Therefore, the present work provides the new hybrid carbon nanofiller with unique structural properties, which makes this material capable enough to bridge between aramid fibers for high performance composite.