PREDICTING THE STIFFNESS OF BIAXIAL BRAIDED FIBER COMPOSITES BY INCORPORATION OF CARBON NANO FIBER

In this study, carbon nano fibers (CNFs) were mixed into epoxy resin through a magnetic stirrer and again mixed using ultra sonicator. Using hand layup technique, biaxial braided fiber composites were prepared with unfilled, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 wt% CNF. Tensile test and shear test was performed to identify the tensile strength and shear strength of the composites. Fractured surface of the tensile specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy to identify morphologies of nanoparticles. A discrete three layer model was developed for prediction of the tensile modulus and shear modulus of biaxial braided fiber composites. Theoretical and experimental values were compared. The experimental and theoretical results show that the addition of CNF in the epoxy matrix had significant influences on the mechanical properties of biaxial carbon braided fiber composites. CNF inclusion with braided composite promoted the tensile modulus, tensile strength, shear modulus and shear strength up to 0.5wt% of the biaxial carbon braided fiber composites.