Enhancing Interlaminar Shear Strength (Ilss) Of Woven Fabric Hybrid Polymeric Nanocomposites By Incorporating Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes

In this work, multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with weight percentage of 0.1% and 0.2% were incorporated in the epoxy polymer resin to form epoxy nanocomposites. The investigation of the effect of MWCNTs on the mechanical behavior of epoxy nanocomposite was carried out. The hybrid composite containing Glass/Carbon/Basalt fibers with MWCNT modified epoxy nanocomposite were fabricated using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding method (VARTM) and tested for its interlaminar shear strength according to ASTM standards. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique was used to evaluate the dispersion of MWCNTs in polymer epoxy. Moreover, effect of fiber orientation on the interlaminar shear strength of the hybrid nanocomposites was investigated. The addition of 0.1 wt% of MWCNTs enhanced the interlaminar shear or short beam strength by 10% and by 5% with 0.2 wt% of MWCNTs. The aim of this research work is to find the effect of MWCNTs on mechanical properties of modified epoxy nanocomposites laminates, exclusively for airplane and automobile structural applications.