Effect of A-MWCNTs and ETBN toughener on impact, compression and damping properties of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

In the present work, epoxy resin is modified with epoxy terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (ETBN) liquid rubber and was used to make carbon fiber reinforced epoxy (C-epoxy) composites with an aim to enhance the impact, compression and damping properties. ETBN added C-epoxy composites were further modified using amino functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (A-MWCNTs) at different weight ratios namely 0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt%, and 1.5 wt% and evaluated impact, compression and damping properties. Results indicate that modification of C-epoxy with ETBN enhances the properties considerably. A-MWCNTs addition to ETBN modified C-epoxy (A-MWCNTs-C-Epoxy-ETBN) further enhances the impact strength (26%), compressive strength (17%) at 1.0 wt% and damping ratio (87%) at 0.5 wt% of A-MWCNTs. The toughening mechanisms contributing to the enhancement of mechanical and damping properties of A-MWCNTs are discussed. Keywords: CFRP, MWCNT, ETBN, Multi phase composite