Compression after impact properties of glass fiber/epoxy/MWCNT composites

Glass fiber/epoxy resin/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used to fabricate the nano materials integrated thermoset composite materials in this study. Thermoset composites with and without nano materials were fabricated using resin transfer molding (RTM) methods. The fabricated samples were tested with compression after impact and charpy impact tests. The samples with MWCNTs demonstrated the best improvement of the compression after impact modulus and strength with 31% and 5.6% compared to the samples without carbon nanotubes. The nano materials integrated specimens showed 10.2% improvement of charpy impact strength against specimens without carbon nanotubes in 90° degree direction. Due to the existing of the carbon nanotubes between fiber and polymer matrix was the reason of the improvement of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes integrated composites.