Effect of Carbon Nanotube Reinforcement on Glass Fiber Thermoplastic Laminates: Elastic Properties, Impact Resistance, and Electrical Conductivity

ABSTRACT

Glass fiber/Elium acrylic thermoplastic laminate containing various weight fractions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Graphistrength MWCNTs) was subjected to tensile, low‐velocity impact, and dielectric tests, and compared to a control composite without MWCNTs. The composite materials were manufactured via vacuum resin infusion following manual preimpregnation of the reinforcement phase. The results showed that integrating from 1 to 2.5 weight fraction (wt%) of MWCNTs enhanced both elastic properties and impact resistance. Specifically, the Young's modulus increased by more than 18% relative to the pristine composite. Under impact energies of 40 and 60 J, the MWCNT‐reinforced composite exhibited a 15% increase in peak force, a 16.4% reduction in absorbed energy, and a 30% enhancement in the penetration threshold. Improvement in mechanical performance could mainly be due to the good MWCNT–fibers–matrix adhesion which creates strong bonding between glass fibers and MWCNT, thereby improving stress transfer. Concurrently, the composite materials became electrically conductive starting at 2 wt% of MWCNTs, suggesting a high probability of interconnected MWCNT particles and indicating the percolation threshold. While 2 wt% can be considered as the optimal MWCNT content for overall properties, an exceptional 680% increase in electrical conductivity was achieved at 3.5 wt%.