An investigation on the dynamic behavior and thermal properties of MWCNTs/FRP laminate composites

Abstract

The synergetic effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), carbon fiber (CF), and glass fiber (GF) on the static and dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of MWCNTs/epoxy (EP), carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP)/EP composites were studied. Impact, tensile, and flexural strengths and fatigue cycles of MWCNTs/EP, MWCNTs/CFRP/EP, MWCNTs/GFRP/EP were increased with an increase of MWCNTs content in the epoxy resins. The impact strength of MWCNTs/EP composite is increased dramatically from 4.8 J/M (neat resin) to 12.2 J/M (increased 154.1%) by adding 2.0 phr MWCNTs in the composites. The tensile strength of MWCNTs/CFRP/EP was enhanced from 580.1 MPa (CFRP/EP) to 781.4 MPa (increased 34.7%) by adding 0.5 phr MWCNTs. In addition, the flexural strength of MWCNTs/GFRP/EP was increased from 244.1 MPa (GFRP/EP) to 298.1 MPa (increased 22.16%) by adding 0.75 phr MWCNTs. The fatigue cycles of MWCNTs/GFRP/EP were increased from 959 cycles (GFRP/EP) to 3232 cycles (increased 237%) by adding 2.0 phr MWCNTs. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of MWCNTs/CFRP/EP was decreased significantly by adding 2.0 phr MWCNTs. The CTE of GFRP/EP had a value of 65.5 ppm/°C by adding 2.0 phr MWCNTs and was lower than that of CFRP/EP.