Fabrication and characterization of carbon/epoxy composites mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

In this study, a high-intensity ultrasonic liquid processor was used to obtain a homogeneous mixture of epoxy resin and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNTs were infused into epon 862 epoxy resin through sonic cavitation and then mixed with W curing agent using a high-speed mechanical agitator. The trapped air and reaction volatiles were removed from the mixture using a high vacuum. Flexural tests and fracture toughness tests were performed on unfilled and CNT-filled epoxy to identify the effect of adding CNTs on the mechanical properties of epoxy. The highest improvement in strength and fracture toughness was obtained with 0.3 wt% CNT loading. The nanophased matrix filled with 0.3 wt% CNT was then used with weave carbon fabric in a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) set up to fabricate composite panels. Flexural tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding CNTs on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite. The glass transition temperature, decomposition temperature, and flexural strengths were improved by infusing CNTs. Based on the experimental result, a linear damage model has been combined with the Weibull distribution function to establish a constitutive equation for neat and nanophased carbon/epoxy. Simulated result show that that infusing CNTs increases Weiubll scale parameter, but decrease Weibull shape parameter.