The influence of nano/micro hybrid structure on the mechanical and self-sensing properties of carbon nanotube-microparticle reinforced epoxy matrix composite

Nano/micrometer hybrids are prepared by chemical vapor deposition growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on SiC, Al2O3 and graphene nanoplatelet (GNP). The mechanical and self-sensing behaviors of the hybrids reinforced epoxy composites are found to be highly dependent on CNT aspect ratio (AR), organization and substrates. The CNT-GNP hybrids exhibit the most significant reinforcing effectiveness, among the three hybrids with AR1200. During tensile loading, the in situ electrical resistance of the CNT-GNP/epoxy and the CNT-SiC/epoxy composites gradually increases to a maximum value and then decreases, which is remarkably different from the monotonic increase in the CNT-Al2O3/epoxy composites. However, the CNT-Al2O3 with increased AR ⩾ 2000 endows the similar resistance change as the other two hybrids. Besides, when AR < 3200, the tensile modulus and strength of the CNT-Al2O3/epoxy composites gradually increase with AR. The interrelationship between the hybrid structure and the mechanical and self-sensing behaviors of the composites are analyzed.