INVESTIGATIONS ON MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF EPOXY BASED COMPOSITES BASED ON CHEMICALLY FUNCTIONALIZED MULTIWALL CARBON NANOTUBES WITH MILLED GLASS AND CARBON FIBER

摘要

With superficial efforts for enhancing the mechanical properties such as flexural and tensile strength, epoxy based composite material with multifunctionalized walled carbon nanotubes and Milled Carbon Fiber (MCF) /Milled Glass Fiber (MGF) was successfully synthesized. This article focused on the fabrication of epoxy based composite material with Chemically functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) and MCF/ MGF. Epoxy resins, which are poly-epoxides, are utilized as adhesives and fiber-reinforced composite matrix for the preparation of polymer composites. Multi functionalization of MWCNTs was performed out by using mixed acid treatment, diazonium reaction; multi-functionalized MWCNTs and epoxy resin were mixed with different proposition. Varying compositions of both MGF& MCF were utilized, which could act as filler materials to enhance the mechanical strength of the synthesized epoxy composite material. Glass and carbon fibers were found as waste materials in composite organizations which could be chopped and milled using inexpensive procedures. Tensile and flexural strength analysis test results revealed optimal percentage of MCF and MGF addition as 6%. The improvement of deformation mechanisms in the synthesized epoxy composite materials were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed no agglomerations on the surface of composite material with percentage of MCF, whereas agglomerations were marked in epoxy composite materials synthesized with MGF. This article suggested that the examination of the properties of MGF, which lack research views and open new horizons for advanced MGF based composite functions. The reasons for these changes were discussed with evidence.