Mechanical and water absorption behaviors of carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy/glass fiber laminates

Epoxy laminates were prepared by using hybridization of glass fibers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Mechanical behaviors of the epoxy hybrid composites were characterized by using flexural, impact, and fracture toughness tests. Morphological properties of the epoxy hybrid composites were investigated by using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Water absorption tests were performed at three different immersion temperatures, i.e. 30, 60, and 90℃. The flexural properties, impact strength and fracture toughness of the epoxy/glass fiber composites increased significantly by the incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The kinetics of water absorption for the epoxy hybrid composites conformed to Fickian law behavior. Adding multiwalled carbon nanotubes increases the equilibrium moisture content (Mm) and diffusion coefficient (D), but lowers the activation energy of water diffusion (Ea) for epoxy/glass fiber composites.