Effect of CNT addition on cure kinetics of glass fiber/epoxy composite

Abstract

In present time, developments in reinforced polymer composites have acquired preferential attention for high performance and high precision applications like aerospace, marine and transportation. Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are being substituted because of their low density, higher strength, stiffness, impact resistance, and improved corrosion resistance. Further laminated composites exhibit superior in-plane mechanical properties that are mostly governed by the fibers. However, laminated FRP composites suffer from poor out of plane properties in some applications. These properties can further be improved by the addition of Nano fillers like carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene and so on. Curing cycle plays a very important role in drawing out the optimum property of glass fiber/epoxy (GE) composite. It is expected that the cure kinetics can further be altered by addition of CNT due to its higher aspect ratio. The main objective of this work is to study the effect of CNT addition on cure kinetics of GE composite as multi-segment adsorption of polymer takes place on the CNT surface. In this study effects of curing parameters on mechanical properties and glass transition temperature of CNT embedded glass fiber/epoxy composite (CNT-GE) has been evaluated. For this study control GE and CNT-GE (with 0.1 wt. %) laminates were fabricated using hand lay-up technique followed by hot compression. The curing parameters that were considered in the present investigation were temperature (80°C, 110°C, and 140°C) and time (0.5 hr, 3 hr and 6 hr). For different combination of above mentioned temperature and time, samples of GE and CNT-GE composites were post cured.

Effect of repeated hydrothermal cycling on the durability of glass fiber/epoxy composites with and without carbon nanotube reinforcement

“…These samples were post‐cured at a temperature of 140°C for 6 h to achieve optimum cross‐linking. [ 17,39 ] In total, four different composites, that is, GE, 0.1 wt% CNT‐GE (0.1CNT‐GE), 0.3 wt% CNT‐GE (0.3CNT‐GE), and 0.5 wt% CNT‐GE (0.5CNT‐GE) composite was prepared.…”

Improving delamination resistance of carbon fiber reinforced polymeric composite by interface engineering using carbonaceous nanofillers through electrophoretic deposition: An assessment at different in‐service temperatures

“…These pressed laminates were allowed to cure at RT for 24 h. Further, the samples were cut as per ASTM standards required for the testing and finally post‐cured at 140°C for 6 h in oven, to get optimum cross‐linking 37 …”

Effects of acid, alkaline, and seawater aging on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of glass fiber/epoxy composites filled with carbon nanofibers

“…Laminates were fabricated by using hand layup method followed by hot pressing. Laminates then cut to obtain samples for the flexural testing as per the ASTM D7264 and for dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as per the ASTM 7028 using a diamond cutter and finely polished to the above standards and post cured at 140 °C for 6 h . Through resin burn‐off test, the volume fraction of the glass fiber ( v f ), epoxy matrix ( v m ), CNF ( v CNF ), and voids ( v v ) in GE, 0.1, and 1% CNF‐GE was calculated and reported in Table .…”