Experimental investigation on effects of the addition of carbon nanotubes on the mechanical properties of glass/epoxy composite laminates

In this paper, the effects of adding carbon nanotubes on mechanical properties of resin and composite laminates are experimentally studied. Used nanocomposites have 12 layers of 2D woven glass fiber and epoxy resin system is made of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and Epikure F-205. In this study, the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) modified with hydroxide (-COOH) was used with weight percentages of 0, 0.5 and 1 respect to the total weight of resin. Results of tensile test have showed that the addition of carbon nanotubes can change the tensile properties of matrix. Maximum increase can be seen in the modulus of the resin of 0.5 wt% nanotubes content which was increased about 32%. Moreover, the results of tensile properties of hybrid nanocomposites laminate show maximum change in toughness of sample of 0.5 wt% nanotube content about 14% .