Energy dissipation and high-strain rate dynamic response of E-glass fiber composites with anchored carbon nanotubes

Authors: Boddu, Veera; BRENNER, MATTHEW - Us Army Research; PATEL, JIGNESH - Us Army Research; KUMAR, ASHOK - Us Army Research; MATENA, P - University Of Mississippi; TADEPALLI, TEZESWI - University Of Mississippi; PRAMANIK, BRAHMANANDA - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Composites Part B Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/31/2015
Publication Date: 12/15/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5642477
Citation: Boddu, V.M., Brenner, M.W., Patel, J.S., Kumar, A., Matena, P.R., Tadepalli, T., Pramanik, B. 2016. Energy dissipation and high-strain rate dynamic response of E-glass fiber composites with anchored carbon nanotubes. Composites Part B: Engineering. 88:44-54.

Interpretive Summary: Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites have excellent mechanical properties such as high strength, stiffness, toughness, inter-laminar shear strength, and are lightweight. These composites are used in a wide variety of structural applications including aerospace, automotive, civil, and the sporting industry. These advanced composites are also suitable for residential and non-residential building envelopes that would withstand extreme conditions such as earthquake, floods, and blasts. Fundamental information related to fabrication, mechanical properties, and durability of the materials will facilitate development of the above potential applications. Developing such value added products with plant polymers will generate additional markets for farm products and income for farmers.

Technical Abstract: This study explores the mechanical properties of an E-glass fabric composite reinforced with anchored multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNTs were grown on the E-glass fabric using a floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition procedure. The E-glass fabric with attached CNTs was then incorporated into resin based composites and compared to similar composites without CNTs. Long and short beam bending tests, uniaxial compression measurements for energy dissipation, high strain-rate Split-Hopkinson pressure bar measurements, and ballistic performance (V50) tests were performed to characterize the mechanical properties of the CNT composites. The CNT composites showed a reduction in interlaminar shear strength by 25.9%. They also showed an increase in the specific energy absorption by 106% at high strain rates and an increase in energy density dissipation by 64.3% after 5 cycles at quasistatic strain rates. In ballistic V50 tests, the CNT based composites showed a higher V50 value by 11.1%. Due to their reduced weight and energy dissipation properties, the direct growth of CNTs on E-glass fabrics incorporated into composites have potential defense applications such as blast protection.