Influence of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube on Mixed Mode Fracture of Sandwich Composite

Abstract

Mixed mode fracture toughness of glass-epoxy (G/E) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) core sandwich composite with and without multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are investigated through experimental mixed mode bending (MMB) methods. Results demonstrate improvement in mixed mode fracture toughness (G) values of samples with a certain percentage of MWCNT at 0.8 mode ratio (M.R.). Mixing of hardener in sonicated MWCNT-epoxy resin system and vacuum assisted resin infusion (VRI) technology of this study is an easy and cost effective methodology in comparison to previously adopted other methods limited to laminated composites. The study identifies the optimum weight percentage of MWCNT addition in resin system for maximum performance gain in mixed mode fracture toughness. The results are supported by high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) analysis and fracture micrograph of field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) investigation.