Effect of Integration of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) on Flexural Properties of Thermoset Composites
Özgür DEMİRCAN Pınar ÇOLAK Kemal KADIOĞLU Erdinç GÜNAYDIN
AbstractNanocomposite materials are obtained as a dispersion in a nanometer dimension within one second phase and are defined as at least two phase material groups. Carbon Nanotube is an allotropic of carbon element [1]. In other words, they are obtained by cylindrical wrapping of plates in the form of honey pellets. In shapely carbon nanotube structures, atoms are connected to each other by sp2 (like graphite), atoms form hexagonal geometry, and each atom has only three neighbours. Carbon nanotubes have high resistance to impacts such as compression, bending, twisting due to hole structures and high length / diameter ratios [2]. There are single-layer (single-walled) or multi-layer (multi-walled) carbon nanotubes. Previous scientific investigations have demonstrated that multi- walled CNTs (MWCNTs) have higher resistance to chemicals than single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs). Carbon nanotubes are one hundred times stronger than steel, and weight is one sixth. Steel is harder at the same time, but as flexible as plastic. Therefore, it is the most robust material known to have high corrosion resistance [3] Because of these properties, CNTs have been used. In addition, if we look at the structure and properties of Epoxy; the low molecular weight of liquid immature epoxy resins gives them superior molecular mobility during processing. High strength thermoset polymers such as epoxy are added to glass fiber to increase mechanical strength and thermal stability. The addition of nanoparticles lead to increases in inter fibre fracture strength of up to 16% [4].This important feature allows the liquid epoxy resins to be quickly wetted to the surface. Fiber reinforced materials generally have more resistant structure than unreinforced materials. As the glass fiber ratio increases, the strength of the material increases. The addition of MWCNTs not only increases the tensile strength of the epoxy matrix but also increases fracture toughness.[5] Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the inner layers of an MWCNT can be effectively deformed only through the direct application of tensile or shear forces, not through van der Waals interactions[6]. There are some studies on the improvement of interfacial and mechanical properties of thermoset composites by incorporating CNT into composites by fiber coating. From here it is aimed to increase the bending properties of the new nanocomposite which we will produce by improving the bonding of the resin / fiber interface, thus reaching new areas of use.