EFFECT OF MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES ON THE MECHANICAL AND DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF WOVEN CARBON FIBER/EPOXY COMPOSITES

: Using carbon fiber/epoxy composites with different weight fractions of 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was the subject of this investigation. The composites' uniform three-layer carbon fiber reinforcing structure and epoxy polymer matrix were achieved by a manual lay-up approach. A battery of experiments were executed to assess the dynamic and mechanical capabilities of the created composites. Tensile tests, flexural tests, and impact resistance. In addition, the fracture surfaces and MWCNT dispersion were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using 0.328 weight percent of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) significantly increased the tensile strength (179.72 MPa) and impact resistance (34.383 KJ/m2). Because the nanotubes were evenly distributed throughout the epoxy matrix, stress was better transferred to the fibers and crack formation and propagation were postponed, leading to this improvement. At 0.4 weight percent, the strength kept going up in flexural testing all the way up to 62.312 MPa, which is probably because the matrix stiffened up as the nanocarbon filled micro-voids and reinforced the interfaces between the composite layers. By confirming more uniform nanocarbon distribution and stronger fiber-matrix bonding at these concentrations, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) lent credence to the mechanical trends and highlighted the advantages of employing nanofillers within the ideal dosage and dispersion ranges. Mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are the subject of this article.