High performance composites are currently being used in the marine, automotive, aerospace and defense industries. These industries demand materials with properties that are similar or better than conventional metals at a fraction of the weight. The development of nanoparticle reinforced composites is presently one of the most explored areas in materials science and engineering. The exceptional properties of nanoparticles have made them a focus of widespread research. By combining nanoparticles with traditional reinforcement materials, multiscale composites can be produced with superior properties to that of regular composites. This research focuses on the development of multiscale reinforcement composites, through the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), IM7 and T800 carbon fibers and SC-79 epoxy resin. Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding and hand lay-up/ vacuum bagging processes were evaluated for the manufacturing of multiscale composites. Results from this research showed that the use of carbon nanotubes can increase the tensile strength by up to 27% and toughness by up to 38%, with the addition of 2.5wt% multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). However there were no significant changes in the flexural properties with the addition of carbon nanotubes. Analysis of the fracture surfaces, using scanning electron microscopy showed that there was good dispersion of the carbon nanotubes through out the matrix material. The good dispersion of tubes aided in toughening the SC-79 epoxy resin. This toughening effect was evident though the change in crack propagation patterns on the fracture surface. There was also evidence of the nanotubes bridging cracks and holding resin particles together, which also lead to increased fracture toughness / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Industrial Engineering in partial
fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2005. / Date of Defense: October 31, 2005. / Multiscale, SC-79 Epoxy Resin, T800, IM7, Carbon Nanotubes, Composite / Includes bibliographical references. / Richard Liang, Professor Co-Directing Thesis; Okenwa Okoli, Professor Co-Directing Thesis; James Sands, Outside Committee Member; Reginald Parker, Committee Member; Ben Wang, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_169005 |
| Contributors | Davey, Kirk-Duval S. (authoraut), Liang, Richard (professor co-directing thesis), Okoli, Okenwa (professor co-directing thesis), Sands, James (outside committee member), Parker, Reginald (committee member), Wang, Ben (committee member), Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
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