Effect of multi‐walled carbon nano‐tube on mechanical behavior of glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract This research work is focused on development of epoxy based fiber metal laminate (FML) that comprised of multi‐walled carbon nano‐tube (MWCNT), glass fiber, and aluminum metal sheet. The hand layup technique was employed to fabricate the sandwich FML with different weight percentages (3, 4, and 5 wt%.) of MWCNT. The mechanical properties of the developed FMLs were determined through tensile, flexural, lap shear, and hardness tests following ASTM and IS standards. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to characterize the failure mechanism of composites. The FML with MWCNT offered superior tensile and shear properties up to the addition of 4 wt%. The MWCNTs were found to be agglomerated in the epoxy when added more than 4 wt%. The FML's showed larger deformation before complete failure in shear mode with respect to the addition of MWCNTs. However, there was no considerable improvement recorded in the flexural and impact behavior of the FML composition. The addition of MWCNT fillers in the epoxy turned it more brittle and exhibited comparatively less deformation before failure in flexural mode.