In the present investigation, resin transfer molding has been used to produce high quality carbon fiber epoxy composites and nanotube-reinforced carbon fiber epoxy composites. To study the influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on improving the mechanical properties and fatigue life, the tension-tension fatigue test has been carried out on those two kinds of material in the fiber direction. The damage mechanism in the fiber directions was analyzed by X-ray radiography and electron microscopy. The results show that CNTs pulled out, rapture and bridged cracks during the test, the results also show that CNTs possess an obvious potential on improving the property of carbon fiber epoxy composite, especially for properties that dominated by matrix.
Nanoscale in situ observations of crack initiation and propagation in carbon fiber/epoxy composites using synchrotron radiation X-ray computed tomography