Improvement in Mechanical and Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Carbon fibre/Epoxy Composites Using Carboxyl Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Investigations were carried out to optimize mechanical and thermal performances of carbon fibre/epoxy composites modified with functionalized carbon nanotubes. For fabricating carbon fibre/epoxy nanocomposites, 0.1-0.4 wt.% carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH) were incorporated in an epoxy system. Laminates were cured at a temperature of 65.55 °C. The effects of MWCNT on flexural, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS),tensile and thermo-mechanical properties of carbon fibre/epoxy composites were studied. The results obtained from flexural, ILSS, tensile and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of carbon fibre/epoxy demonstrated a linearly increasing trend in properties up to 0.3 wt.% MWCNT loading. Results obtained from the thermal mechanical analysis showed a linearly decreasing trend in coefficient of thermal expansion up to 0.3 wt.% MWCNT loading. The properties were lower at 0.4 wt.%, due to agglomeration that may have resulted in poor wetting of the carbon fibres.