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Strengthening in and fracture behaviour of CNT and carbon-fibre-reinforced epoxy–matrix hybrid composite

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Abstract

Advanced materials such as continuous fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composites offer significant enhancements in strength and fracture resistance properties as compared with their bulk, monolithic counterparts. In the present work, mode-I (tensile) fracture behaviour of the neat epoxy (without nano- or hybrid reinforcements), nanocomposite (with amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforcement to neat epoxy) and hybrid composite (with amino MWCNT and carbon fibre reinforcements to neat epoxy) along with their flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength has been reported and discussed. Limited topological studies have also been conducted to understand the nature of material fracture and its dependence on the notch orientation. The results thus obtained are analysed and discussed in detail to elucidate: (i) alignment of fibre and its influence on the anisotropy in strength and fracture resistance, (ii) dependence of notch root radii on the apparent fracture toughness and concurrence to strain-controlled fracture and (iii) finally, the nature of J–R curves. The results thus obtained have revealed that the resistance to fracture is significantly increased with the addition of amino-functionalized MWCNTs and carbon fibres. In the hybrid composite, fracture resistance is greater in the longitudinal orientation of fibres than in the transverse orientation and it exhibits a significantly higher strength–fracture toughness combination.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Sri Anil Kumar, Group Head, HTCC, ASL, and Dr I. Srikanth, Scientist of ASL, DRDO, for many fruitful discussions and also for the help rendered during material processing and experimental work. Authors also thank SAIF, IIT Bombay, for FEG-SEM analysis of the composites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vignan Institute of Technology and Science, Deshmukhi, Hyderabad, 508 284, India

    K CHANDRA SHEKAR

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University College of Engineering, Hyderabad, 500 085, India

    K CHANDRA SHEKAR & B ANJANEYA PRASAD

  3. Defence Materials and Stores and Research and Development Establishment, DRDO, PO DMSRDE, Kanpur, 208 013, India

    N ESWARA PRASAD

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CHANDRA SHEKAR, K., ANJANEYA PRASAD, B. & ESWARA PRASAD, N. Strengthening in and fracture behaviour of CNT and carbon-fibre-reinforced epoxy–matrix hybrid composite. Sādhanā 41, 1443–1461 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-016-0566-8

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