Improvements in mechanical properties of a carbon fiber epoxy composite using nanotube science and technology

Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminates, with strategically incorporated fluorine functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) at 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 weight percent (wt.%), are studied for improvements in tensile strength and stiffness and durability under both tension–tension (R = +0.1) and tension–compression (R = −0.1) cyclic loadings, and then compared to the neat (0.0 wt.% CNTs) composite laminate material. To develop the nanocomposite...