CHARACTERIZATION OF MECHANICAL AND VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES OF CARBON FIBER REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES MODIFIED WITH MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES, NANOCLAY AND BINARY NANOPARTICLES

摘要

Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites modified with MWCNT, MMT-nanoclay and MWCNT/MMT hybrid nanoparticle were investigated. In this study, 0.3 wt.% of COOH-MWCNT, 2 wt.% of MMT and 0.1 wt.% MWCNT/2 wt. % MMT binary nanoparticles by weight of epoxy were incorporated to modify the carbon fiber-epoxy composites. The composite laminates were subjected to tensile, flexure and dynamic mechanical analysis tests. A morphological study was conducted with scanning electron microscope. Addition of each of the nanoparticles in composites shown significant improvement in mechanical and viscoelastic properties compared to those of control ones. But, best results were obtained for addition of 0.1% MWCNT/2% MMT hybrid nanoparticles in epoxy. Composites modified with hybrid nanoparticles exhibited about 15% increase in storage modulus as well as 10° C increase in glass transition temperature. Flexural modulus for hybrid nanoparticle modified composites depicted about 30% improvement compared to control ones. Viscoelastic properties like storage and loss modulus increased by over 40% and coefficient of thermal expansion decreased both in the inplane and through the thickness directions. Thus, significant improvement of mechanical and viscoelastic properties was achieved by incorporating hybrid nanoparticles to carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites.