Effect of MWCNTs addition, on the mechanical behaviour of FRP composites, by reinforcement grafting and matrix modification

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes have extraordinary potential for the modification of reinforcements and matrices in fiber-reinforced polymer composites for enhanced mechanical properties. In this study, 12 fiber-reinforced polymer composites were produced with and without the addition of functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes using different stacking sequences of E-glass and carbon fabric reinforcements in simple and hybrid configurations. Carbon nanotubes were incorporated into the fiber-reinforced polymer components prior to composite fabrication by: (i) grafting on reinforcements, and (ii) matrix modification by carbon nanotubes. The grafting of carbon nanotubes exhibited a pronounced tensile behaviour with carbon-rich fiber-reinforced polymers, whereas carbon nanotube-modified matrix showed more enhanced flexural behaviour overall. Around 12% increase in tensile strength was observed when the carbon nanotubes were grafted on to the reinforcements compared to respective pristine composites, while around 70% increase in the flexural strength was noticed as compared to the respective pristine composties when carbon nanotube-modified matrix was used.

Carbon nanotubes in carbon/epoxy multiscale textile preform composites: A review

“…[149] Shahbaz et al ascertained that MWCNTs grafting with the E-glass and carbon fiber materials augmented the composite tensile properties while mixing with the polymer matrix caused a more improved flexural property. [150] The flexural properties of the nanocomposite were determined by following the ASTM 790-10 [151] by using the following relations as:…”

“…[ 149 ] Shahbaz et al ascertained that MWCNTs grafting with the E‐glass and carbon fiber materials augmented the composite tensile properties while mixing with the polymer matrix caused a more improved flexural property. [ 150 ] The flexural properties of the nanocomposite were determined by following the ASTM 790‐10 [ 151 ] by using the following relations as: where, σ f is the flexural strength or max. stress at the outer surface at mid‐span (MPa), P is the applied force at a given point on the load‐deflection curve (N), L is the support span (mm), b is the width of the beam (mm), h is the thickness of beam (mm), E f is the flexural modulus of elasticity (GPa), L is the support span (mm), m is the slope of the tangent to the initial straight‐line portion of the load‐deflection curve, ε f is the maximum strain at the outer surface or flexural strain (%), and δ is the maximum displacement of the center of the beam (mm).…”

Effect of ultraviolet radiation and water spraying on the mechanical properties of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes reinforced natural fiber and hybrid composites

“…19,20 Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the nanofillers used for this purpose and they are divided into three types: single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), double-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT), and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). [22][23][24] The difference between the types of CNTs is the amount of graphene numbers rolled into their structure. 24 However, MWCNTs are the most studied because of two factors: lower chemical inertia for functionalization and better dispersion in the matrix reducing the cost of fabrication.…”

“…However, MWCNTs are the most studied because of two factors: lower chemical inertia for functionalization and better dispersion in the matrix reducing the cost of fabrication 22,25,26 . The main advantages of using nanotubes are the increase of mechanical, electrical, thermal, UV absorption capacity and ability to reduce moisture and oxygen permeability of the composites 23,24,27 . However, this improvement in properties is related to several factors, such as, concentration and dispersion of the nanoparticles, cure kinetics and the interactions between nanoparticles and the matrix 22,28–31 …”

Durability of multi-scale reinforced epoxy composites

“…The MWCNTs particles introduced several distinctive fracture mechanisms like crack bridging, particle pull-out, particles fracture etc, that are known as energy consuming mechanisms [281]. In [286], (i) grafting of CNTs on either Carbon of Glass fibre surfaces and…”