Reducing dispersity of mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites by introducing multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Mechanical properties of carbon fiber (CF) reinforced epoxy composites enhanced with a small quantity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated. 1 wt.% MWCNTs were well dispersed in the epoxy matrix and the CF prepregs were manufactured using fiber filament wind process. The hybrid MWCNT/CF/epoxy composites were fabricated by laying up of fiber prepregs. Tensile properties, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and microstructures of the composites were investigated. The results show that the addition of MWCNTs into the composites improved the tensile properties and ILSS with much reduced dispersity. Enhancing mechanisms behind these were elucidated.