Matrix‐Modified Aramid Fiber‐Reinforced Composites With Enhanced Out‐of‐Plane Properties for Advanced Structural Applications

ABSTRACT This study aims to increase out‐of‐plane mechanical properties of aramid‐reinforced composites via epoxy/nanoparticle mixtures containing different weight fractions (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt.%) of carboxyl‐functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (COOH‐MWCNT), graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), and their hybrid combinations. In this context, tensile, short beam shear (SBS), single edge notch bending (SENB), and Charpy impact tests were conducted for a deeper understanding of nano additive effects on materials. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was employed to identify the samples' morphological properties and fracture surface analysis. As a result of the tests, no visible improvement was observed in the tensile test; however, significant improvements were noted in the SENB, SBS, and Charpy impact test results. The composites reinforced with 0.2 wt.% MWCNT exhibited the most notable improvements, with increases of 26.86% in the SBS test and 54.65% in the SENB test. 0.1 wt.% GNP and 0.1 wt.% hybrid (0.05 wt.% MWCNT and GNP) reinforced composites showed the most improvement with 41.18% in the Charpy test. The experimental results showed that modifying the epoxy matrix with different nanoparticle types and ratios significantly improved mechanical properties.