Influence of surface modified MWCNT on mechanical and thermal properties of carbon fiber/epoxy resin hybrid nanocomposite

In this present study surface modified Multi walled Carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy resin along with carbon fibre was fabricated and studied. The principal aim of this work is to reduce cluster formation by surface modification of carbon nano tubes. Surface modification was carried out by 3-aminopropyletrimethoxysilane with aqueous solution method. Surface modified carbon nano tubes were mixed into epoxy matrix by sonication process with 24KHz. Carbon fibre fabric was laid along with epoxy matrix in suitable wtume ratio 40% and composites were prepared by compression moulding technique. Different weight percentages of 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, 1.2% and 1.5%of MWCNT were reinforced with epoxy matrix to evaluate the significant need of filler addition on matrix. Samples were cured by room temperature for 24 Hrs. The tensile, flexural, impact, hardness and inter laminar shear strength tests shows the surface modified MWCNT/Carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composites gives better results than unmodified MWCNT/carbon fibre reinforced epoxy resin composites. The TGA results shows modified MWCNT/carbon fibre epoxy resin composite gives maximum delay in degradation.Scanning electron microscope images revealed that the dispersion of surface modified MWCNT on epoxy matrix was better at high frequecny sonication than unmodified MWCNT/epoxy system.