Mechanical Behaviour, Characterization and Finite Element Analysis of Neat Epoxy and Epoxy Composites Containing Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are a novel, highly complex, commercially available, and scalable form of nanotubes. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are considered most effective nanofiller in manufacturing of light weight, high stiff and high strength polymeric composites due to their low density as well as superior mechanical properties like strength and modulus. Customized matrix material was developed by adding MWCNTs in the epoxy resin. MWCNTs with different weight percentage were added to epoxy resin (Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol), and the composites were characterized. The epoxy resin is expected to infiltrate the network of the MWCNTs and could improve mechanical properties. The panels of neat epoxy and neat epoxy with 0.1 wt.% of MWCNTs and 0.2 wt.% of MWCNTs were formed directly by pouring mixture on the glass surface followed by proper curing cycle. Test specimens were prepared from composite sheet by using waterjet cutting machine. The specimens were tested in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for tensile and flexural properties. MWCNTs and epoxy nanocomposites were characterized using Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Incorporation of 0.1% MWCNTs in neat epoxy has shown improvement in tensile and flexural properties compared to the neat epoxy. The finite element analysis neat epoxy and epoxy nanocomposite were carried out in ANSYS to validate the experimental results. The experimental results and simulation results were compared. It was recognized that there is a good agreement between the computational and experimental results.