The Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube-Incorporated CFRP Laminates Interlaminar Fracture Toughness

Authors

• Nikhil Janardan Rathod, Department of Department of Computer Engineering, SR University, Warangal, Telangana, 506371, IndiaFollow
• Markala Karthik, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SR University, Warangal, Telangana, 506371, India
• Harshvardhan P. Ghongade, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brahma Valley College of Engineering and Research Institute, Nashik, India
• Javed Sikandar Shaikh, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vidyavardhini’s College of Engineering and Technology, Vasai, Mumbai, 401202, India
• Rahul Soma Deshmukh, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brahma Valley College of Engineering and Research Institute, Nashik, India.

Subject Area

Material Science and Engineering

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

The structural integrity of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs) suffers from damage caused by interlaminar cracking and delamination which diminishes their performance capabilities. This study provides an experimental analysis of the impact of carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of CFRP laminates. The researchers created composite specimens by using epoxy systems which included MWCNT loadings of 0.1 wt% 0.2 wt% and 0.3 wt% together with an unmodified control. The researchers conducted Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) testing according to ASTM standards to ascertain the rate of critical strain energy release (G_IC) of the material. The results show that MWCNT addition improves delamination resistance whereas the 0.1 wt% loading shows the greatest improvement of approximately 25% over the base laminate. Higher loadings resulted in comparatively lower gains which scientists attributed to the rising resin viscosity and the difficulties in processing. The researchers uncovered through fractographic analysis that nanotube bridging and pull-out and crack deflection operated together to increase energy dissipation during the process of crack propagation. The study demonstrates that MWCNT reinforcement successfully enhances interlaminar fracture toughness in CFRP laminates because low nanotube loadings provide the best results. The study highlights the importance of balancing mechanical enhancement with processability in nanocomposite design.

Keywords

carbon nanotubes, fracture toughness, MWCNT, SEM

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Rathod, Nikhil Janardan; Karthik, Markala; Ghongade, Harshvardhan P.; Shaikh, Javed Sikandar; and Deshmukh, Rahul Soma (2026) "The Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube-Incorporated CFRP Laminates Interlaminar Fracture Toughness," Mansoura Engineering Journal: Vol. 51 : Iss. 5 , Article 18.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.58491/2735-4202.3451