EFFECT OF CARBONACEOUS NANOFIBRE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CONVENTIONAL GLASS-EPOXY COMPOSITES

Abstract

Investigations into carbon nanofibers (CNF) as not only structural reinforcement materials but also standalone or embedded strain/damage, thermal, atmospheric and biochemical sensors are driven by their high specific strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, stiffness as well as extreme flexibility. Polymer matrix, being the weakest phase of a composite material which brakes first under the application of external load, should get strong enough to transfer load effectively from matrix phase to fiber phase. Hence incorporation of CNF into polymer matrix is the focus of the current investigation. In this study matrix modification is carried out dispersing 0.2%, 0.5% and 1% CNF into polymer matrix. To examine the flexural properties 3 point bend test is carried out with Instron 5967 with a loading speed of 1 mm/min. The maximum increase in strength obtained among all the four compositions was 22.10% in case of 1% CNF-GE composite.