Studies have been carried out to evaluate interlaminar shear behaviour of carbon nanotube and carbon fiber reinforced, epoxy matrix hybrid composite. Short beam shear (SBS) tests were conducted to characterize the influence of fiber orientation in the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). Experimental details, specimen configuration, data acquisition and processing are presented in detail. The present study reveals the importance of alignment of fiber and its effects on ILSS properties and nature of deformation under shear loading conditions. The results show that the interlaminar shear strength of the hybrid composite is significantly higher in longitudinal orientation as compared to the same in transverse orientation; and more importantly show that such anisotropy is of an order of magnitude and higher.

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Advanced materials such as continuous fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composites offer significant enhancements in variety of properties, as compared to their bulk, monolithic counterparts. These properties include primarily the tensile stress, flexural stress and fracture parameters. However, till date, there are hardly any scientific studies reported on carbon fibre (C f) and carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced hybrid epoxy matrix composites (unidirectional). The present work is an attempt to bring out the flexural strength properties along with a detailed investigation in the synthesis of reinforced hybrid composite. In this present study, the importance of alignment of fibre is comprehensively evaluated and reported. The results obtained are discussed in terms of material characteristics, microstructure and mode of failure under flexural (3-point bend) loading. The study reveals the material exhibiting exceptionally high strength values and declaring itself as a material with high strength to weight ratio when compared to other competing polymer matrix composites (PMCs); as a novel structural material for aeronautical and aerospace applications.

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