Sains Malaysiana 47(3)(2018): 563–569

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4703-17

 

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes/Woven Kenaf Fabric-Reinforced Epoxy Laminated Composites

(Komposit Laminat Epoksi Diperkuat Tiub Nano Karbon Berbilang Dinding/Fabrik Tenunan Kenaf)

 

NURUL HIDAYAH ISMAIL, MOHD HAFIZI BIN MOHAMAD & MARIATTI JAAFAR*

 

School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering Campus,

Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

 

Received: 16 May 2017/Accepted: 19 September 2017

 

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of adding 1 vol% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into woven kenaf/epoxy laminated composites on their flexural properties and to compare between two techniques used to incorporate MWCNT into the composite which are spraying and solution techniques. Furthermore, the effect of MWCNT addition in woven glass/woven kenaf/epoxy hybrid composites at the same filler concentration on the flexural properties were also investigated. All the laminated composites with and without MWCNT were fabricated using vacuum bagging method. The flexural properties of the composite samples with and without MWCNT were evaluated by applying three-point bending test. The results were supported by morphological observation. It was found that the addition of MWCNT using both spraying and solution techniques reduced the flexural strength and flexural modulus of MWCNT/woven kenaf/epoxy composites, with obvious reduction trend was shown by former technique. The morphological observation of the composites fracture surface showed that delamination failure occurred in MWCNT/woven kenaf/epoxy laminated composite prepared by spraying technique. Further investigation on hybrid composites showed that MWCNT/woven glass/woven kenaf/epoxy laminated hybrid composites exhibited significant improvement in the flexural properties.

 

Keywords: Flexural properties; hybrid composite; multi-walled carbon nanotubes; woven glass; woven kenaf

 

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan penambahan 1 vol% tiub nano karbon berbilang dinding (MWCNT) ke dalam fabrik tenunan kenaf/epoksi komposit laminat ke atas sifat lenturannya dan untuk membandingkan antara dua teknik yang digunakan untuk memasukkan MWCNT ke dalam komposit tersebut iaitu teknik semburan dan teknik larutan. Tambahan lagi, kesan penambahan MWCNT ke dalam komposit hibrid tenunan kaca/tenunan kenaf/epoksi pada kepekatan pengisi yang sama juga dikaji. Semua komposit laminat dengan MWCNT dan tanpa MWCNT telah direka menggunakan kaedah beg vakum. Sifat lenturan sampel komposit dengan dan tanpa MWCNT dinilai dengan menggunakan ujian lenturan tiga titik. Keputusan itu disokong oleh pemerhatian morfologi. Didapati bahawa penambahan MWCNT menggunakan kedua-dua teknik semburan dan teknik larutan telah mengurangkan kekuatan lenturan dan modulus lenturan MWCNT/tenunan kenaf/epoksi dengan trend pengurangan yang jelas ditunjukkan oleh teknik semburan. Pemerhatian morfologi pada permukaan patah komposit mendedahkan bahawa kegagalan delaminasi berlaku dalam komposit laminat MWCNT/tenunan kenaf/epoksi yang disediakan dengan kaedah semburan. Kajian lanjut pada komposit hibrid menunjukkan bahawa komposit hibrid laminat MWCNT/tenunan kaca/tenunan kenaf/epoksi mempamerkan peningkatan yang ketara dalam sifat lenturan.

 

Kata kunci: Komposit hibrid; sifat lenturan; tenunan kaca; tenunan kenaf; tiub nano karbon berbilang dinding

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*Corresponding author; email: mariatti@usm.my