This study experimentally analyzed the hygrothermal effect on the static and fatigue strengths of acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/epoxy composites. The nanocomposite specimens with various CNT contents (0., 0.5, and 1.0 wt.%) were statically and fatigue-tested under three different hygrothermal conditions (25 °C/60% RH, 25° C/85% RH, and 40 °C/85% RH) to investigate the influences of hygrothermal conditions and CNT contents on the tensile static and fatigue strengths of the studied nanocomposites. The results show that the static and fatigue strengths decreased slightly at 25 °C/85% RH environments compared with those tested under the 25 °C/60% RH condition. However, the static and fatigue strengths of the studied nanocomposites decreased substantially under the 40 °C/85% RH condition. The combined temperature and humidity environments weaken the interfacial adhesion between the CNT surfaces and the epoxy matrix. Moreover, the experimental results show that the addition of 0.5 wt.% of carbon nanotubes improved the static and fatigue strengths considerably under the same hygrothermal environments. However, when an excessive amount of CNTs was used (1.0 wt.%), the nanocomposite exhibited the lowest strengths compared with the specimens with 0 and 0.5 wt.% CNTs. The stress concentration effect caused by the CNT aggregates was detrimental to the static and fatigue strengths of the studied nanocomposites.
Temperature dependence of axial thermal expansion coefficient of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (A procedure based on measurements of coefficient of thermal expansion for aligned carbon nanotube/epoxy composites)
