Thermal and thermo-mechanical characterization of MWCNTs integrated E-glass/carbon fabric reinforced composites

Abstract

The prime objective of this work is to interpret the effects of different kinds of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on thermal and thermo-mechanical properties of E-glass/carbon fabric reinforced hybrid composites. MWCNTs enhanced composites are fabricated by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding method. The thermal and thermo-mechanical characterizations are carried out using a differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analyzer and dynamic mechanical analyzer, while the morphological structure is examined by scanning electron microscope. The results show that the addition of MWCNTs and changing the fabric stacking sequences do not have effects on the phase changes of the materials but have reducing effects on the void ratio. Besides, it is observed that the added MWCNTs increase the degradation temperature of the composite material and the modulus values. The pristine MWCNT is found more effective on thermal and thermo-mechanical properties of composite structures than functionalized ones.