MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF E-GLASS FIBER REINFORCED POLYESTER/ MWCNTS NANOCOMPOSITES

Abstract

Mechanical properties of polyester/glass fiber reinforced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were studied. MWCNTs nano particles are mixed within resin in various weight fractions of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 % using sonication. E-Glass fiber (chopped strand mat) is used in various weight fractions within the composite like 80/20 wt%, 70/30 wt%, 50/50 wt% to fabricate polyester/CSM/MWCNTs composites. The effect of the addition of MWCNTs nanoparticles on the mechanical characteristics such as hardness and tensile strength were investigated. The effect of various E-glass fiber chopped strand mat (CSM) wt.% reinforcement is also investigated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to show the nanocomposites morphological properties such as reinforcement orientation and the bonding between matrix and fiber. It was found that the addition of 0.4 wt% MWCNTs improves the mechanical properties of composites, especially the 50 wt% polyester / 50 wt% CSM composite. The tensile strength improved by 39.8%, and the hardness improved by 38%. ABSTRAK: Ciri-ciri mekanikal bagi poliester / gelas fiber diperkukuh dengan dinding berbilang karbon nanotiub (MWCNTs) dikaji. Partikel nano MWCNT telah dicampur ke dalam resin pelbagai berat pada pecahan 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 dan 0.6 % menggunakan sonikasi. Gentian Kaca-E (potongan lembaran) telah digunakan dalam pelbagai pecahan berat dalam komposit 80/20 wt%, 70/30 wt%, 50/50 wt% bagi menghasilkan komposit poliester/CSM/MWCNT. Kesan penambahan nanopartikel MWCNT pada ciri-ciri mekanikal seperti kekerasan dan kekuatan tensil diuji. Kesan pelbagai gentian Kaca-E (potongan lembaran) (CSM) wt.% bersama agen pengukuh turut dikaji. Pengimbas Mikroskop Elektron (SEM) digunakan bagi menilai ciri-ciri morfologi komposit nano seperti orientasi pengukuh dan ikatan antara matrik dan gentian. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan dengan penambahan sebanyak 0.4 wt% MWCNT dapat memperbaiki ciri-ciri mekanikal komposit terutama komposit campuran (50 wt% polyester / 50 wt% CSM). Ketahanan tensil meningkat sebanyak 39.8%, dan kekerasan telah bertambah sebanyak 38%.