Effects Of Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes And Graphene On The Mechanical Properties Of Hybrid Polymer Composites

Abstract

A small amount of Graphene and Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by direct mixing were employed to disperse these nanoparticles into a mono-component epoxy system and used as matrix for advanced composites with woven Glass and Carbon fiber reinforcements. These nanoparticles were added directly into the hosting system and dispersion was carried out by using mechanical stirring. In this study the hybrid polymer composite with Glass fiber, Carbon fiber and epoxy polymer in the ratio of 9:12.5:78.5, 13.5:18.75:67.75 and 18:25:57 percent of volume with addition of fillers, Graphene (0.2 wt%) and MWCNT (0.2wt%) have been developed. The mechanical characterization results confirm that the composite developed by using graphene nanoparticles represents a fundamental feature in enhancing the tensile elastic modulus and hardness behavior of the composite system, where as MWCNT has significant effect on the bending modulus and impact behavior. The optical microscopic study for the fractured samples reveals a significant increase in the fiber-matrix interface adhesion where as decrease in fiber breakage, fiber pullout and debonding.