Preparation and mechanical properties of MWCNTs modified glass fiber fabrics/epoxy composites disposed by electrostatic flocking method

In order to improve the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were attached to glass fiber fabrics surface using electrostatic flocking method to get modified glass fiber fabrics. The MWCNTs modified glass fiber fabrics/epoxy composite laminates were prepared using method of vacuum assisted resin infusion (VARI) with low-viscosity epoxy and the prepared modified fabrics. The mechanical properties of the laminates were characterized. The fracture surfaces of the MWCNTs modified glass fiber fabrics/epoxy composite specimens after mechanical experiments were observed by SEM and OPM. The results show that compared with the unmodified glass fiber fabrics/epoxy composite laminates without MWCNTs, the tensile strength of MWCNTs modified laminates decreases by 10.24%, flexural strength decreases by 13.90%, and compressive strength decreases by 17.33%. The tensile modulus and flexural modulus improve by 19.38% and 16.04% respectively, while compressive modulus increases by 13%. The bondings between MWCNTs and glass fiber fabrics are weak and there are debondings and delaminations between them under tensile loading. After the modified glass fiber fabrics treated by hot pressing at 200 ℃ for 2 h, the mechanical properties of MWCNTs modified glass fiber fabrics/epoxy composite laminates increase. The interface bondings between resin and glass fiber fabrics is improved after hot pressing treatment.