Enhancement of glass fiber composites laminate mechanical properties using multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This study investigates the enhancement of mechanical properties of glass fiber composites (GFCs) through incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at varying concentrations of 0.1, 0.4, 0.7, and 1.0 wt.%. Laminates of ∼4 mm thickness were fabricated using a hand lay-up process with 16 glass fabric layers and epoxy matrix. Tensile, flexural, and hardness tests were conducted as per ASTM standards. Results show that the optimal reinforcement occurs at 0.7 wt.% MWCNTs, where tensile strength increased from 188.35 MPa (neat GFC) to 252.48 MPa (34.04 % improvement), and flexural strength improved from 219.44 MPa to 291.54 MPa (32.85 % increase). Hardness also increased from 76.9 HRL to 93.3 HRL, representing a 21.32 % enhancement. In contrast, 0.4 wt.% samples showed performance deterioration due to CNT agglomeration and weak interfacial bonding. SEM analysis confirmed improved fiber–matrix adhesion and reduced delamination at optimal loading. The findings demonstrate that low-level MWCNT incorporation significantly enhances load transfer efficiency and structural integrity of GFC laminates.