MULTIFUNCTIONAL MULTI-SCALE CARBON-FIBER/EPOXY MATRIX COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH CARBON NANOTUBES

In the present work, apart from developing a processing method for multi-scale laminates, characterization efforts are focused on finding longitudinal, transverse and in-plane shear modulus using flexure and in-plane shear testing of unidirectional, [0 degrees](10), and multidirectional, [+/- 45 degrees](2s), laminates. A comparison of the above mentioned macroscale properties is presented for three types of composites, i.e., composites embedded with functionalized nanotubes, un-functionalized or pristine nanotubes and base composite without nanotubes. Classical laminate theory is used to model a representative laminate system. Transverse and longitudinal properties are presented and compared with experimental observations. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy is performed to study the nanotube dispersion and the morphology of fracture surfaces at different length scales.