Preparation of MWCNT/carbon fabric reinforced hybrid nanocomposite and examination of its mechanical properties

In our work we have prepared carbon fiber/epoxy composite and carbon fiber/carbon nanotube/epoxy hybrid nanocomposite laminates by hand laminating assisted by vacuumbag technology. During the production of the specimens we have encountered the viscosity increasing effect of nanotube filling, which we characterized by a viscosity test. The results of the test showed, that in the lowest shear rate range carbon nanotube filling can cause an increase of viscosity by three orders of magnitude, but also at higher shear rates the viscosity of the nanotube filled epoxy resin was ten times the viscosity of the unfilled resin. Mechanical properties of the composite and hybrid composite have been compared by tensile, bending and interlaminar shear tests. During the tensile tests AE signals have also been recorded. The fracture surfaces have been examined by SEM micrographs. The nanotube filling has decreased the tensile strength and the modulus of elasticity by 7-8 percent presumably indirectly, the bending properties didn't change noticeably, but the interlaminar shear strength of the composite has increased by 15 percent thanks to nanotube filling of the matrix. The decrease of the delamination inclination of the hybrid composite has been affirmed both by the AE and SEM results.