Effect of CNT filler and temperature on fracture toughness of epoxy composites reinforced with carbon fabric

In present research the fracture behavior of carbon fabric-epoxy composites (CE composites) was evaluated with the addition of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 0.75 weight percentages of carbon nano tubes (CNTs) at different temperatures. The CE composites with different wt.% of CNT were fabricated using land layup method and cured by hot pressing. The fracture toughness of fabricated composites was evaluated in mode-I condition at different temperature. From the results it was shown that the highest fracture toughness was observed at 0.75 wt.% of reinforcement of CNT functional fillers. The fracture toughness of 0.75 wt.% CNT filled CE composites was increased by 19.73% compared to unfilled CE composites. The fracture toughness of CNT filled CE composites diminishes with increase in temperature and the composite filled with 0.75 wt.% CNT exhibits better fracture toughness than the unfilled CE composite at all the temperatures. The fracture toughness was improved by 57.76% and 71.65% at 40 and 60(degrees)C, respectively, at 0.75 wt.% reinforcement of CNT fillers. The fractured surfaces of composites were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to study the filler contribution to enhance the fracture toughness and failure mechanism of composites.