BARC/PUB/2019/0734

 
 

Investigating the role of 3D network of carbon nanofillers in improving the mechanical properties of carbon fiber epoxy laminated composite

 
     
 
Author(s)

Bisht, A.; Dasgupta, K.; Lahiri, D.
(MG)

Source

Composites A, 2019. Vol. 126: Article no. 105601

ABSTRACT

Carbon fiber epoxy composites are being used in numerous structural applications. However, fracture toughness of these composites is always less than expected. Therefore, potential of nanofillers in improving the fracture toughness of these composites, with, three different morphologies, i.e., Gr (sheet), CNT (tube) and nanodiamond (particle), in a well-connected 3D network is evaluated in this study. Both, interlaminar and intralaminar mode I fracture toughness, revealed improvement of ~260% and ~53%, respectively, with 25Gr:50CNT:25ND CF-epoxy,as compared to CF-epoxy composite. Marking a total improvement of ~1523% over pure epoxy on intralaminar fracture toughness. The composites were also assessed for tensile and interlaminar shear strength.An improvement of ~60% and ~16%, respectively, is noted with the addition of nanofillers. SEM analysis for delaminated and fractured surfaces revealed the toughening mechanism to be the high surface area of nanofillers,offering strong adhesion between matrix and fiber, along with improved matrix toughness.

 
 
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