Experimental Investigation of the Machinabilty of Polycarbonate Reinforced With Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Author(s):  
Johnson Samuel ◽  
Richard E. DeVor ◽  
Shiv G. Kapoor ◽  
K. Jimmy Hsia

The machinability of a polycarbonate nanocomposite containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes is investigated and contrasted with its base polymer and with a conventional carbon fiber composite. The material microstructures are characterized using transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy methods. Micro end milling experiments are conducted on the three materials. Chip morphology, machined surface characteristics and the nature of the cutting forces are employed as machinability measures for comparative purposes. Polycarbonate chips are seen to transition from being discontinuous to continuous as the feed-per-tooth (FPT) increases, while, at all FPT values the nanocomposite is seen to form comparatively thicker continuous chips. The nanocomposite and the carbon fiber composite are seen to have the lowest and the highest magnitudes, respectively, for both the surface roughness and cutting forces. Shearing along the nanotube-polymer interface and better thermal conductivity are speculated to be the mechanisms responsible for the observations seen in the nanocomposite.

2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 465-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Samuel ◽  
R. E. DeVor ◽  
S. G. Kapoor ◽  
K. J. Hsia

The machinability of a polycarbonate nanocomposite containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes is investigated and contrasted with its base polymer and with a conventional carbon fiber composite. The material microstructures are characterized using transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy methods. Micro-endmilling experiments are conducted on the three materials. Chip morphology, machined surface characteristics, and the nature of the cutting forces are employed as machinability measures for comparative purposes. Polycarbonate chips are seen to transition from being discontinuous to continuous as the feed-per-tooth (FPT) increases, while, at all FPT values the nanocomposite is seen to form comparatively thicker continuous chips. The nanocomposite and the carbon fiber composite are seen to have the lowest and the highest magnitudes, respectively, for both the surface roughness and cutting forces. Shearing along the nanotube-polymer interface and better thermal conductivity are speculated to be the mechanisms responsible for the observations seen in the nanocomposite.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pin-Ning Wang ◽  
Tsung-Han Hsieh ◽  
Chin-Lung Chiang ◽  
Ming-Yuan Shen

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are novel nanofillers possessing attractive characteristics, including robust compatibility with most polymers, high absolute strength, and cost effectiveness. In this study, an outstanding synergetic effect on the grapheme nanoplatelets (GNPs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hybrids were used to reinforce epoxy composite and epoxy/carbon fiber composite laminates to enhance their mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of CNTs/GNPs hybrids on a fixed weight fraction (1 wt%) with mixing different ratio reinforced epoxy nanocomposite, such as ultimate tensile strength and flexure properties, were investigated. The mechanical properties of epoxy/carbon fiber composite laminates containing different proportions of CNTs/GNPs hybrids (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 wt%) were increased over that of neat laminates. Consequently, significant improvement in the mechanical properties was attained for these epoxy resin composites and carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composite laminates.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Zimmer ◽  
Qunfeng Cheng ◽  
Shu Li ◽  
James Brooks ◽  
Richard Liang ◽  
...  

There are documented advantages to using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in composites for various property enhancements. However, to date, only limited studies have been conducted on using of longer CNTs over 1 mm in length. This study used long multiwalled carbon nanotubes (LMWCNTs) and their longer extended networks to test multiple properties in thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and modulus and then compared these properties to those of shorter multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SMWCNTs). For carbon fiber-reinforced composites, the longer graphite paths from LMWCNTs in the matrix were expected to improve all properties. The longer networks were expected to allow for more undisturbed phonon transportation to improve thermal conductivity. This in turn relates to improved electrical conductivity and better mechanical properties. However, results have shown that the LMWCNTs do not improve or decrease thermal conductivity, whereas the shorter MWCNTs provide mixed results. LMWCNTs did show improvements in electrical, mechanical, and physical properties, but compared to shorter MWCNTs, the results in other certain properties varied. This perplexing outcome resides in the functioning of the networks made by both the LMWCNTs and shorter MWCNTs.


Author(s):  
UA Khashaba ◽  
Ramzi Othman ◽  
IMR Najjar

Scarf adhesive joints have attracted an increasing attention in joining/repairing of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite structures due to their zero eccentricity, which provides lower stress distribution across the adhesive layer and better aerodynamic surfaces compared to other bonded joints. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the scarf adhesive joints in carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites under thermomechanical impact loads, which is very important for the aerospace and automotive industries. The adhesive was modified with optimum percentage of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The impact tests were performed at 25 ℃, 50 ℃, and 75 ℃. The residual flexural properties of the unfailed impacted joints were measured using three-point bending test. Results from impact tests at 25 ℃, 50 ℃, and 75 ℃ showed improvement in the impact bending stiffness of the modified scarf adhesive joints by 8.3%, 7.4%, and 11.8% and maximum contact force by 15.6%, 21.3%, and 18.9%, respectively. The energy at failure of the modified scarf adhesive joints with multiwalled carbon nanotubes was improved by 15.2% and 16.4% respectively at 25 ℃ and 50 ℃. At test temperature of 75 ℃, the scarf adhesive joints have hysteresis load–displacement behavior and energy–time curve with rebound energy of 35% and absorbed (damage) energy of 65%. The residual flexural strength of the modified and unmodified scarf adhesive joints is 98.2% and 86.1% respectively, while their residual moduli have remarkable decrease to 71.7% and 81.3%.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Kostagiannakopoulou ◽  
E. Fiamegkou ◽  
G. Sotiriadis ◽  
V. Kostopoulos

The present study attempts to investigate the influence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) on thermal conductivity (TC) of nanoreinforced polymers and nanomodified carbon fiber epoxy composites (CFRPs). Loading levels from 1 to 3% wt. of MWCNTs and from 1 to 15% wt. of GNPs were used. The results indicate that TC of nanofilled epoxy composites increased with the increase of GNP content. Quantitatively, 176% and 48% increase of TC were achieved in nanoreinforced polymers and nanomodified CFRPs, respectively, with the addition of 15% wt. GNPs into the epoxy matrix. Finally, micromechanical models were applied in order to predict analytically the TC of polymers and CFRPs. Lewis-Nielsen model with optimized parameters provides results very close to the experimental ones in the case of polymers. As far as the composites are concerned, the Hashin and Clayton models proved to be sufficiently accurate for the prediction at lower filler contents.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toma Susi ◽  
Albert G. Nasibulin ◽  
Hua Jiang ◽  
Esko I. Kauppinen

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by CVD on industrially manufactured highly crystalline vapor-grown carbon fibers (VGCFs). Two catalyst metals (Ni and Fe) and carbon precursor gases (C2H2and CO) were studied. The catalysts were deposited on the fibers by sputtering and experiments carried out in two different reactors. Samples were characterized by electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Iron was completely inactive as catalyst with bothC2H2and CO for reasons discussed in the paper. The combination of Ni andC2H2was very active for secondary CNT synthesis, without any pretreatment of the fibers. The optimal temperature for CNT synthesis was750∘C, with total gas flow of 650 cm3min⁡−1ofC2H2,H2, and Ar in 1.0:6.7:30 ratio.


2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. J. Gbadeyan ◽  
Krishnan Kanny ◽  
Mohan Turup Pandurangan

In the present work, composites were developed with novel combination of particular fillers and fibers for an automotive brake system. The influence of short carbon fiber (SCF) on wear rate, coefficient of friction (CoF), modulus, compressive strength, hardness, and surface morphology of worn surface were examined. This investigation confirmed that 0.1% multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reduced wear rate, CoF for all combinations of composite with carbon fiber. Results indicate that 0.1% (MWCNTs) and 10% SCF-filled composite had superior properties. This performance may be attributed to the uniform dispersion of fiber and the synergistic effect of SCF and MWCNTs, acting in concert that formed a more stable structure resulting in a high strength, stiffness, tougher, and high-heat absorption. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microstructure subsequently performed show change in structural development with a corresponding increase of the incorporation of SCF and MWCNTs, which eventually explained the improved properties of composite.


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