Interlaminar properties of carbon fiber composites with halloysite nanotube-toughened epoxy matrix

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), which are geometrically similar to multi-walled carbon nanotubes, can improve the impact strength of epoxy substantially, according to our previous work [1]. Using a HNT-toughened epoxy as the matrix, a set of hybrid composites was prepared with carbon fiber-woven fabrics. The interlaminar properties of the composites were investigated by a short-beam shear test, a double-cantilever-beam test and an end-notched flexure test. The results showed that the addition of HNTs to the composites improved the interlaminar shear strength and the fracture resistance under Mode I and Mode II loadings greatly. The morphological study of the hybrid composites revealed that HNTs were non-uniformly dispersed in the epoxy matrix, forming a unique microstructure with a large number of HNT-rich composite particles enveloped by a continuous epoxy-rich phase. A study of the fracture mechanism uncovered the important role of this special morphology during the fracturing of the hybrid composites.