A Micro-Mechanical Model for Elastic Modulus of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Resin Composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) powder was used as reinforcement in epoxy resin with weight percentages 0.5, 1, 2 and 3% respectively. Dispersion of MWCNTs in the epoxy resin was obtained by a three mill rolling process. Tensile strength, compressive strength and elastic modulus were obtained from load versus displacement results. A theoretical model was developed to calculate the elastic modulus and compare with the experimental results. There was a similar trend in the experimentally obtained elastic modulus and in a modified Halpin-Tsai theory. Results show that the tensile strength, compressive strength and elastic modulus of epoxy resin are increased with the increasing of percentage of MWCNT fillers. The significant improvements in tensile strength, compressive strength and elastic modulus were attributed to the excellent dispersion of MWCNT filler in the epoxy resin.