This study experimentally characterizes the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) reinforced to higher viscous aircraft thermoset polymer epoxy. The effects of MWNTs weight percentage (wt%) to flexural and fracture toughness properties were investigated via Mode I fracture behaviour. This experiment found that the average increment in fracture toughness of 0.1 and 0.3 wt% MWNTs reinforced to epoxy is 62.7 and 31.8%, respectively. However, shifting to a higher viscosity epoxy lead to some difficulties like to remove void formed in matrix and harder to achieve appropriate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersion due to limited pot life and working time. Morphological study analysis on fracture surface using field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) shows that the mechanical properties enhancement was attributed to crack pinning, crack path deflection and localized inelastic matrix deformation due to agglomerated CNTs. The study concluded that the key important to the extent the strength and fracture toughness is by finding the appropriate processing method to achieve adequate state of CNTs dispersion within the matrix.
Part of the book: Natural and Artificial Fiber-Reinforced Composites as Renewable Sources