The effect carbon nanotube on three-point bending behavior of fiber reinforced composite

The aim of this research article is to show the effect of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) additive on the performance of composite plate materials with fiber reinforced polymer matrix produced by vacuum infusion method under bending test. In this study, multiple layered composite plates have produced by glass, carbon, and aramid fiber reinforcements with 0.5% CNT addition by mass. In addition, a hybrid composite plate containing glass, carbon and aramid (Kevlar) fiber has produced with CNT addition by using the same production parameters. Three point bending test has performed on the composite plates under 1 mm/min bending with ASTM D7264 standard. As a result, CNT addition has increased the flexural performance but has decreased the elongation of glass and carbon fiber reinforced systems. In aramid reinforced system, both flexural strength and elongation has increased. However, in the hybrid fiber reinforced system, different fiber types have damaged at different elongation distances within the structure under different loads, and gradually more than one failure have observed. When the CNT has added to the hybrid system, the elongation increased but the flexural strength has decreased.