Evolution of structural, electrical, and mechanical response of 3D robust network and conducting mechanically modified glass fabric-polyester composites with devisable 1D VGCNF

Abstract 3D robust network unsaturated polyester-glass fabric composites modified with varying amount VGCNF are prepared through combined hand lay-up techniques followed by a filtering membrane vacuum-assisted method. The electro-thermal-mechanical behaviors of the nanocomposites are studied. Critical nanofiller weight fraction is observed at which thermal and mechanical properties showed maximum enhancement. On the other hand, no such critical nanofiller weight fraction for maximum enhancement of electrical properties. However, minimum nanofiller weight fraction is required to form critical percolation threshold at which insulating changes to conductive. The addition of nanofiller results in crystallization, graphitization and structural distortion of the composite. The enhancement in tensile and flexural strengths of 56.17% and 53.26% are obtained respectively at the critical weight fraction of 2 wt% VGCNF. Similarly, enhancement in electrical conductivity of 9 order magnitude was obtained for UP/GF nanocomposite with 3 wt% VGCNF. The microscopy studies showed the random and uniform dispersion of nanofiller in the matrix along with mechanical interlocking between matrix and reinforcement which is solely by the new methodology adopted for the preparation of nanocomposite.