Mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy composites

• Published in: Materials & Design Vol. 31; no. 9; pp. 4202 - 4208
• Main Authors: Montazeri, Arash, Javadpour, Jafar, Khavandi, Alireza, Tcharkhtchi, Abbas, Mohajeri, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Carbon nanotubes; A. Nanocomposite; Correlation; E. Mechanical properties; Engineering Sciences; Materials; Mathematical analysis; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Polymer matrix composites; Scanning electron microscopy; Shape factor; Tensile strength; E. Mechanical properties; A. Nanocomposite; A. Carbon nanotubes; A. Carbon nanotubes - A. Nanocomposite - E. Mechanical properties
• ISSN: 0261-3069; 0264-1275
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2010.04.018

Untreated and acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were used to fabricate MWNT/epoxy composite samples by sonication technique. The effect of MWNT addition and their surface modification on the mechanical properties were investigated. Modified Halpin–Tasi equation was used to evaluate the Young’s modulus and tensile strength of the MWNT/epoxy composite samples by the incorporation of an orientation as well as an exponential shape factor in the equation. There was a good correlation between the experimentally obtained Young’s modulus and tensile strength values and the modified Halpin–Tsai theory. The fracture surfaces of MWNT/epoxy composite samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscope.