Effect of introduction of fullerene soot on mechanical properties of unidirectional thermoplastic tape

A series of unidirectional thermoplastic tapes (UD tapes) specimens based on carbon fibers and polyamide filled with fullerene soot in a concentration of up to 4 wt. % was made. From the obtained tapes by the method of hot pressing, composite materials (CM) specimens with 0/0 and 90/90 ply orientations were made. A study of the mechanical properties of the samples obtained by the 3-point bending test was made. Shown that the introduction of fullerene soot up to 2 wt. % can significantly increase the strength and modulus of elasticity of both longitudinal and transverse reinforcement directions. Further increase in the concentration of soot leads to a decrease in properties. A theory that describes the effect of fullerene soot on the properties of CM, including the increase and further decrease in properties, depending on the concentration of nanoparticles was proposed.