Enhancement of mode I/II fracture toughness in basalt/Kevlar hybrid composites via multiwall carbon nanotube integration
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Mehmet Bulut
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Ömer Yavuz Bozkurt
Abstract
This study investigates the synergistic enhancement of Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness (GIC and GIIC) in basalt/Kevlar hybrid fiber-reinforced epoxy composites through multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) integration. Hybrid laminates with two stacking sequences (B5K10B5 and K5B10K5) were fabricated via vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), incorporating MWCNTs at 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 wt.% in the epoxy matrix. Fracture behavior was characterized using double cantilever beam (DCB) and end-notched flexure (ENF) tests, complemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to elucidate failure mechanisms. Key results demonstrate that 0.1 wt.% MWCNTs optimally enhanced fracture resistance: K5B10K5 composites achieved 32.9 % GIC improvement (923.42 J m−2) and 22.9 % GIIC increase in mode II fracture toughness. B5K10B5 composites exhibited superior baseline GIC (998.61 J m−2 vs. K5B10K5’s 619.47 J m−2) but lower GIIC sensitivity to MWCNTs. Performance degradation occurred at 0.5 wt.% MWCNTs due to agglomeration, reducing GIC by 22.5 % in B5K10B5. Conversely, K5B10K5 showed exceptional GIIC (4481.06 J m−2) at 0.5 wt.%, attributed to crack bifurcation and shear-induced frictional sliding. SEM analysis confirmed that MWCNTs enhance toughness via crack bridging and fiber-matrix interlocking at optimal dispersion (0.1 wt.%), while agglomerates degraded Mode I performance but partially increased Mode II resistance.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review Article
- Digitalization techniques in polymer processing – a review
- Research Articles
- Investigation on the extrusion-induced geometric distortion of three-lumen medical micro-catheters through numerical simulation
- Hemp-PEEK composites: surface treatment, processing, and performance
- Simulation of polyurethane foaming process based on physical property parameters
- Evaluation of mechanical properties of basalt and aramid fiber reinforced hybrid composites with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) core material
- The effect of styrene isoprene diblock content on hot melt label pressure-sensitive adhesives properties
- Dual nozzle electrospinning based on piezoelectric-conductive composites preparation: simulation and experiment
- Enhancing the strength and surface quality of carbon fiber reinforced PLA composite parts 3D printed using fused deposition modelling
- Combining Mag-Org fillers with epoxy-functionalised graphene to enhance the thermal stability of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based matrix while optimising its mechanical properties
- Performance enhancement of ternary epoxy hybrid composites with rice husk bio-filler
- Optimizing anisotropy in injection-moulded poly(methyl methacrylate) parts using DOE and simulation
- Hybrid biocomposites based on PLA/pine fiber/CaCO3
- Enhancement of mode I/II fracture toughness in basalt/Kevlar hybrid composites via multiwall carbon nanotube integration
- Quick assessment of melt flow index in hybrid bio-composite filaments for bio additive manufacturing
- Preparation, flame retardancy, and phase-change kinetics of OMMT/chitosan composite phase-change capsules
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review Article
- Digitalization techniques in polymer processing – a review
- Research Articles
- Investigation on the extrusion-induced geometric distortion of three-lumen medical micro-catheters through numerical simulation
- Hemp-PEEK composites: surface treatment, processing, and performance
- Simulation of polyurethane foaming process based on physical property parameters
- Evaluation of mechanical properties of basalt and aramid fiber reinforced hybrid composites with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) core material
- The effect of styrene isoprene diblock content on hot melt label pressure-sensitive adhesives properties
- Dual nozzle electrospinning based on piezoelectric-conductive composites preparation: simulation and experiment
- Enhancing the strength and surface quality of carbon fiber reinforced PLA composite parts 3D printed using fused deposition modelling
- Combining Mag-Org fillers with epoxy-functionalised graphene to enhance the thermal stability of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based matrix while optimising its mechanical properties
- Performance enhancement of ternary epoxy hybrid composites with rice husk bio-filler
- Optimizing anisotropy in injection-moulded poly(methyl methacrylate) parts using DOE and simulation
- Hybrid biocomposites based on PLA/pine fiber/CaCO3
- Enhancement of mode I/II fracture toughness in basalt/Kevlar hybrid composites via multiwall carbon nanotube integration
- Quick assessment of melt flow index in hybrid bio-composite filaments for bio additive manufacturing
- Preparation, flame retardancy, and phase-change kinetics of OMMT/chitosan composite phase-change capsules
