Thermomechanical analysis of laminate polymer nanocomposites stacking with carbon/glass/carbon.

Polymer composites are becoming more popular as a feasible alternative to conventional engineering materials due to superior physio-mechanical qualities, corrosion resistance, moisture resistance, damage tolerance, and tailored properties. The epoxy matrix molecular structure significantly affects mechanical performance because of its high crosslink structure, density, and stiffness. This paper deals with the evaluation of mechanical and thermal characteristics of carbon (C) and glass fiber (G) stacked composites modified by multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT). The conventional hand-layup method (HLM) was employed to fabricate nanocomposite samples in different MWCNT wt% (0, 0.45, 0.90,1.35). Tensile and Flexural testing examined the mechanical behavior of the developed composite. Thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis compute the thermal and viscoelastic behavior of the nanocomposite specimens. Scanning electron microscopy describes the failure mechanisms on the damaged surfaces of the nanocomposite samples. The MWCNT supplements in the stacked composite make it more efficient than pristine samples and augment the mechanical characteristics of structural components. The MWCNT-modified stacked samples show improved tensile and flexural behavior than the stacked samples for the desired application. This work reveals that adding MWCNTs as the third phase reinforcement into the stacked (C–G–C) nanocomposites could improve the mechanical and thermal characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]