Comparison of properties of MWCNT/carbon fibre/ epoxy laminated composites prepared by solvent spraying method

Abstract

The incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in laminated composites is believed to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. However, the nature of the MWCNT, which tend to agglomerate and form into ropes, restricts their dispersion in the composites. MWCNT-filled carbon fibre laminated composite was fabricated via hand lay-up followed by the vacuum bagging technique. MWCNT at different loadings of 0.5 to 1.0 vol% was dispersed by a solvent spraying method with two different dispersing agents, namely ethanol and Triton X- 100. The flexural and thermal properties of the hybrid laminated composites were investigated. The CF laminated composites filled with 1.0 vol% of MWCNT dispersed in ethanol possessed better mechanical properties than other hybrid CF composites.