scholarly journals Flexural Properties of Chopped Kenaf and Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites Embedded with Carbon Nanotubes

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 6842-6846
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Flexural Strength ◽  
Carbon Fibre ◽  
Polymer Composites ◽  
Flexural Properties ◽  
Specimen Thickness ◽  
Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Roll Mill ◽  
Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Fibre Reinforced Polymer

An experimental study was performed to investigate the flexural behaviour of chopped kenaf and carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites embedded with carbon nanotubes (CNT). The fibre content in the composites was 10 wt.% with three different CNT loadings, which were 0.5wt.%, 1.0wt.%, and 1.5wt.%. The CNT were dispersed in the epoxy resin using the mechanical stirrer and three-roll mill machine and mixed with the chopped fibres before being poured into the designated mould. Three-point bending tests were conducted with a specimen thickness and width of 4 mm and 10 mm, respectively, and a standard specimen length of 20% longer than the support span. The flexural test results showed that the chopped carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) with 0.5wt.% CNT exhibited the highest flexural strength and modulus (42 MPa and 2.9 GPa, respectively) compared to other composites with 1.0wt.% and 1.5wt.% CNT loading. The chopped kenaf fibre reinforced polymer (KFRP) composite with 0.5wt.% CNT loading showed the highest increase in the flexural strength and modulus, at 30 MPa and 2.8 GPa, respectively. Hence, it was concluded that the addition of CNT improved the flexural properties and 0.5 wt.% CNT was the ideal loading to enhance the flexural properties of chopped fibre-reinforced polymer composites.

scholarly journals Sequential Laser–Mechanical Drilling of Thick Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites (CFRP) for Industrial Applications

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2136
Author(s):  
Sharizal Ahmad Sobri ◽  
Robert Heinemann ◽  
David Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fibre ◽  
Polymer Composites ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Fibre Laser ◽  
Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Fibre Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Thrust And Torque

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) can be costly to manufacture, but they are typically used anywhere a high strength-to-weight ratio and a high steadiness (rigidity) are needed in many industrial applications, particularly in aerospace. Drilling composites with a laser tends to be a feasible method since one of the composite phases is often in the form of a polymer, and polymers in general have a very high absorption coefficient for infrared radiation. The feasibility of sequential laser–mechanical drilling for a thick CFRP is discussed in this article. A 1 kW fibre laser was chosen as a pre-drilling instrument (or initial stage), and mechanical drilling was the final step. The sequential drilling method dropped the overall thrust and torque by an average of 61%, which greatly increased the productivity and reduced the mechanical stress on the cutting tool while also increasing the lifespan of the bit. The sequential drilling (i.e., laser 8 mm and mechanical 8 mm) for both drill bits (i.e., 2- and 3-flute uncoated tungsten carbide) and the laser pre-drilling techniques has demonstrated the highest delamination factor (SFDSR) ratios. A new laser–mechanical sequence drilling technique is thus established, assessed, and tested when thick CFRP composites are drilled.

Effect of nanofiller on fibre laser drilling quality of carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite laminates

2018 ◽  
Vol 233 (4) ◽  
pp. 857-870
Author(s):  
Dhiraj Kumar ◽  
Kalyan Kumar Singh
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Carbon Fibre ◽  
Polymer Matrix ◽  
Composite Laminates ◽  
Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Fibre Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Laser machining of carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites is a challenging task due to a significant difference between physical and thermal properties of the constituent materials, i.e. polymer matrix and carbon fibres. This results in extended heat-affected zone (HAZ), taper kerf and poor surface finishing. This paper focuses on an investigation, attempting to minimise the divergence in the decomposition temperature of carbon fibres and epoxy resin by adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes in polymer matrix as a secondary reinforcement. High thermal conductivity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes increases the thermal diffusivity of polymer matrix, which in turn reduces the matrix recession. In addition, laser power and scan speed was also considered as an input parameter and their influence on output responses such as HAZ, taper angle and surface roughness has been studied. To analyse the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the resultant thermal damage, an innovative technique, i.e. scanning acoustic microscopy was used. This technique provides a ply-by-ply damage analysis. C-scans of the top and bottom surface of the machined holes in the composite were also carried out. Further, micrographs of the holes were taken to analyse the quality of the holes using field-emission scanning electron microscope. The obtained results indicated that HAZ, taper angle and surface roughness of holes decreased by ∼30%, ∼47% and ∼43%, respectively, with 1.5 wt% multi-walled carbon nanotubes doped carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminates, when compared with the results obtained from experiments with neat carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite laminates.

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