Study of the effect of amino-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes on dry sliding wear resistance properties of carbon fiber reinforced thermoset polymers

This work investigates the effect of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the mechanical and tribological behavior of a fiber reinforced composite (FRC). Fiber reinforced composites and nano-engineered FRCs are manufactured by resin transfer molding. In-plane tensile tests, in-plane shear tests and through-thickness compression tests are used to assess the influence of MWCNTs on the material mechanical behavior. Pin on disk dry sliding tests are used to quantify the effect of MWCNTs on the friction coefficient and the specific wear rate. It was determined that (1) MWCNTs have an influence on the improvement on both the through-thickness compression strength and the specific wear rate, and (2) they do not influence the material stiffness, in-plane tensile and shear strengths and the friction coefficient. It is assumed that the observed improvements are due to the demonstrated positive influence of the MWCNTs effect on the matrix/reinforcement interfacial strength and on the matrix fracture toughness.