Effect of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide-6/Polypropylene Composites for Lightweight Automotive Parts

Abstract

The development of lightweight automotive parts is an important issue for improving the efficiency of vehicles. Polymer composites have been widely applied to reduce weight and improve mechanical properties by mixing polymers with carbon fibers, glass fibers, and carbon nanotubes. Polypropylene (PP) has been added to carbon fiber-reinforced nylon-6 (CF/PA6) composite to achieve further weight reduction and water resistance. However, the mechanical properties were reduced by the addition of PP. In this research, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added to compensate for the reduced mechanical properties experienced when adding PP. Tensile testing and bending tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties. A small amount of CNTs improved the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced PA6/PP composites. For example, the density of CF/PA6 was reduced from 1.214 to 1.131 g/cm3 (6.8%) by adding 30 wt % PP, and the tensile strength of 30 wt % PP composite was improved from 168 to 173 MPa (3.0%) by adding 0.5 wt % CNTs with small increase of density (1.135 g/cm3). The developed composite will be widely used for lightweight automotive parts with improved mechanical properties.

Aluminum-Filled Amorphous-PET, a Composite Showing Simultaneous Increase in Modulus and Impact Resistance

“…In Rodríguez-Uicab et al’s [ 4 ] work on CNT-PET composites, the DSC suggests the PET in the as-prepared samples was semi-crystalline rather than amorphous, hence the elongation-to-break will be naturally different and cannot be compared with cases where the PET is amorphous. Despite this uncertainty about comparing different works on filled PET, inspection of other polymers with CNTs [ 33 , 34 ] show in most cases, they make the composite brittle even at loadings like 1%.…”

Enhanced mechanical and electrical properties of carbon fiber/poly(ether ether ketone) laminates via inserting carbon nanotubes interleaves

“…CF/CNT/PI composites with increased flexural properties were prepared by mixing CNTs in PI resin . CNTs were introduced into CF‐reinforced PA6/PP composites by melt mixing, where the prepared composites showed excellent tensile and flexural properties . However, the aforementioned methods of incorporating CNTs into CFRTP have two drawbacks: (1) the mixing method will increase the melt viscosity of resin and (2) the process of CVD or EPD is complex.…”

Lay-Up and Consolidation of a Composite Pipe by In Situ Ultrasonic Welding of a Thermoplastic Matrix Composite Tape

“…The interest in continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites is continuously increasing due to their inherent benefits compared with thermoset composites such as damage tolerance, high impact resistance, chemical and solvent resistance, unlimited shelf life, low storage costs, weldability, and recyclability [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Other key advantages of thermoplastic composites include the potential of fast in situ out-of-autoclave processing, by applying pressure and heat in one step, and the potential for automation with significant decrease of work time and costs [ 4 , 5 ].…”