A strategy for enhancing shear strength and bending strength of FRP laminate using MWCNTs

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) promises to enhance mechanical properties exceptionally when it is doped with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite. Glass fiber symmetrical laminate with eight layers of 4.0 mm thickness was fabricated by hand lay-up technique assisted by vacuum bagging method. Ply orientations for symmetrical laminate used [(0,90)/(+45,-45)/(+45,-45)/(0,90)//(90,0)/(+45,-45)/(+45,-45)/(90,0)]. MWCNTs reinforced three different samples (0 wt. %, 0.5 wt. % and 0.75 wt. % by weight) were tested on universal testing machine (UTM). Short beam strength test and inter laminar shear strength (ILSS) calculation have been done according to ASTM D2344 and ASTM D7264. UTM having maximum load capacity of 50 KN with loading rate of 0.1 mam/min to 50 mm/min was used for mechanical testing. Testing results justified that by adding 0.50 wt. % MWCNTs in symmetrical GFRP laminate can enhance inter laminar shear strength by 13.66 % and bending strength by 44.22%.