Influence of nano-modification on the mechanical and electrical properties of conventional fibre-reinforced composites

Journal
Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing  
Volume
36
Issue
11
Start Page
1525
End Page
1535
Citation
Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 36 (11) : 1525-1535 (2005-11)
Publisher DOI
10.1016/j.compositesa.2005.02.007
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-25644461235
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit a high-potential for the reinforcement of polymers. The mechanical properties of potential matrices of fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP), such as epoxy resins, were significantly increased by low contents of carbon nanotubes (CNT) (tensile strength, Young's modulus and fracture toughness). Nano-particle-reinforced FRPs, containing carbon black (CB) and CNTs could successfully be manufactured via resin transfer moulding (RTM). A filtering effect of the nano-particles by the glass-fibre bundles was not observed. The glass-fibre-reinforced polymers (GFRP) with nanotube/epoxy matrix exhibit significantly improved matrix-dominated properties (e.g. interlaminar shear strength), while the tensile properties were not affected by the nano-fillers, due to the dominating effect of the fibre-reinforcement. The GFRP containing 0.3 wt% amino-functionalised double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNT-NH2) exhibit an anisotropic electrical conductivity, whereas the conductivity in plane is one order of magnitude higher than out of plane.
Subjects
A. Glass fibres
B. Electrical properties
B. Strength
C. Damage mechanics
E. Resin transfer moulding (RTM)