Fabrication and mechanical properties of hybrid fibre-reinforced polymer hybrid composite with graphene nanoplatelets and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This paper gives the investigation of the mechanical properties of Jutton-Glass hybrid polymer nanocomposite with multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as reinforcements. For preparing the composites, the vacuum bagging technique was used with the composition of hybrid nano-material taken as 0, 0.25, and 0.5 wt. % of Graphene nanoplatelets and MWCNTs and the samples were tested for mechanical properties as per ASTM standards. The samples prepared have been subjected to various testing, and the results are reported. Prior to the preparations of composites, the polymer was mixed with surface-modified nanomaterials and stability tests were conducted to assess uniform dispersion with the aid of UV-Vis spectroscopy, the outcomes showed that the samples were exceptionally uniform over a period. The hardness and tensile properties were evaluated, and it was found that surface-modified nanomaterials could improve the properties better compared to the use of pristine nanomaterials as reinforcements. It was found that 0.25% MWCNT and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) show more improved properties than 0.5% MWCNT and Graphene nanoplatelets. However, the composite samples with Graphene nanoplatelets also showcased encouraging mechanical properties like hardness and tensile strength.