Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites: Effects Of Nano Reinforcements

Abstract

In present work, fiber reinforced nanocomposites have been manufactured using carbon fiber as reinforcement and epoxy modified with small quantities of multiwall carbon nanotubes(0.1 wt%, 0.5 wt% of resin) , Closite 30 B® nanoclay (2 wt%, 3 wt% of resin) and a hybrid composition (0.1 wt% MWCNT and 3wt% nanoclay, 0.5 wt% MWCNT and 3wt% nanoclay of resin ). For uniform dispersion of nanofillers in epoxy matrix, mechanical stirring and ultrasonic mixing was done. The morphology of nanocomposites was studied using XRD and TEM. Two ply 0̊ fiber reinforced composites were manufactured using modified epoxy by hand layup method. Tensile and bending tests were performed on nanocomposites as per ASTM standards. It was found that the hardness of the nanocomposites increased with increasing MWCNT and nanoclay content.However, it was also seen that there was an optimal limit. The maximum value of hardness was found in the 0.5wt% of MWCNT and 3wt% of nanoclay samples. Tensile strength and flexural strength of the 2 wt% and 3 wt% nanoclay and content samples were improved. The maximum tensile strength was found in the 3 wt% nanoclay samples. The maximum tensile strain and flexural strength was found in the 0.5 wt% MWCNT samples.