Interlaminar Properties Improvement of Nanocomposites Using Coiled Nanomaterials

In this research helical Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) with various weight percentages as an additional reinforcement were used. The objective was to investigate the effectiveness of helical geometries of the CNTs to form interlocking mechanisms with the resin and the traditional microfiber reinforcements to improve the overall performance of the composite structures and assemblies. In this study, ASTM D2344/2344M-16 is used to study the short beam strength of the laminated nanocomposites and evaluate the benefit of the mechanically interlocked helical CNTs reinforcement. Overall, three sets of composite laminates (i.e., with neat epoxy, and with two different wt% of Helical CNTs reinforced epoxy) were fabricated per ASTM standard D2344/2344M-16. Adequate test specimens were prepared and then they were tested per ASTM standard. The test results were analyzed and evaluated to determine the effects of helical CNTs on short beam strength of the laminated nanocomposites.