High-strain rate compressive behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotube dispersed thermoset epoxy resin

Compressive high-strain rate behavior of thermoset epoxy resin dispersed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes is presented. The present study investigates the effect of strain rate as well as effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube dispersion on the compressive stress–compressive strain behavior of thermoset epoxy resin. The amount of multi-walled carbon nanotubes dispersion was varied up to 3% by weight. The studies were carried out on compressive split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus in the strain rate range of 800–3700/s. Processing of multi-walled carbon nanotubes-dispersed thermoset epoxy resin, testing, damage, and energy absorbing mechanisms and key findings are reported. It is observed that the compressive strength of thermoset epoxy resin increases up to 147% at high-strain rate compared with that at quasi-static loading. The corresponding increase for multi-walled carbon nanotubes-dispersed thermoset epoxy resin is up to 140%. It is also observed that the compressive strength and energy-absorption capability of thermoset epoxy resin increase with the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes.