Tensile properties of carbon nanotubes reinforced epoxy matrix composites

This study investigated the tensile properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) reinforced epoxy matrix composites fabricated using the hand lay-up technique. CNTs were incorporated at different weight percentages (0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt.% and 1.5 wt.%) into epoxy resin. Tensile test were performed according to ASTM D3039 to assess the mechanical performance. Results showed that the 1.0 wt.% CNT sample exhibited the highest strength of 25.40 N/mm2 compared to 0.5 wt.% MWCNT sample (15.75 N/mm2). However, the 1.5 wt.% sample experienced reduced in strength (22.59 N/mm2), attributed to CNT agglomeration and bubble formation during mixing process. Interestingly, the pure epoxy sample showed the highest tensile strength (38.20 N/mm2) might be due to the lack of defect. These findings demonstrate that while CNT can enhance the mechanical performance of epoxy composite, their effectiveness is limited by processing quality and interfacial bonding.