Influence of montmorillonite clay on the thermal and mechanical properties of conventional carbon fiber reinforced composites

In the present investigation, DMA and flexural tests were performed on unfilled, 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 3 wt.% and 4 wt.% clay filled SC-15 epoxy to identify the loading effect on thermal and mechanical properties of the matrix. Thermal and mechanical test results indicated that 2.0 wt% clay/epoxy systems showed the highest improvement in the storage modulus and flexural strength. After that, the nanophased matrix with 2 wt.% clay was then utilized in a Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) set up with satin weave carbon preforms to fabricate laminated composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and flexural tests also were performed on neat and nanophased carbon/epoxy composite. A 5 °C increase in glass transition temperature, 6 °C increase in decomposition temperature and 13.5% improvement in flexural strength was observed in carbon/clay/epoxy as compared with neat carbon/epoxy.