Molybdenum Disulfide‐Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Based Epoxy Coating on Epoxy/Carbon Fiber Laminates for Improved Erosion Resistance

ABSTRACT The investigation evaluates the erosion behavior of carbon fiber (CF) reinforced epoxy laminates, protected with an epoxy‐based coating system incorporating synthesized molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) hybrid nanoparticles. The nanocomposite coating with 0.5 wt% MoS 2 ‐MWCNTs hybrid demonstrated a superior resistance to severe erosive wear conditions and exhibited clear deviation in erosion response as compared to conventional epoxy/CF composites. The epoxy hybrid nanocomposite coated epoxy/CF laminates displayed a semi‐ductile erosion characteristic, with a maximum erosion rate of 1132 mg/kg, occurring at a 30° impact angle, and the minimum erosion rate of 600 mg/kg occurring at a 90° impact angle. Morphological analysis of the eroded surface by FESEM revealed that micro‐plowing and micro‐cutting mechanisms were predominant at the hybrid nanocomposite coated regions, whereas fiber cutting mechanisms were primarily observed in the epoxy/CF laminates.