A study on the synergistic influence of reduced graphene oxide and MWCNTs on the mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposite

In this study, the synergistic influence of reduced graphene oxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes  on the mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites was investigated. In the first step, the epoxy nanocomposite specimens reinforced with 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1 multi-walled carbon nanotubes weight percentages fabricated using direct homogenization technique. The mechanical properties were obtained via a tensile test setup. The results showed the 35.7%, 21.7% and 12.47% increase in Young's modulus, ultimate stress and yield stress of the 0.04% multi-walled carbon nanotubes reinforced specimen. In the second step, the epoxy reinforced with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 reduced graphene oxide weight percentages fabricated. For the 0.6% reduced graphene oxide reinforced specimen, 37.6%, 18.1% and 13.14% increase in Young's modulus, ultimate stress and yield stress were seen. Next, the effect of different reduced graphene oxide content on 0.04% multi-walled carbon nanotubes reinforced epoxy was investigated. The obtained results demonstrated the increase in the mechanical properties of 0.04% multi-walled carbon nanotubes -0.4% reduced graphene oxide (Mixing ratio 1: 10). Due to this mixing ratio for 0.06% multi-walled carbon nanotubes -0.6% reduced graphene oxide specimen, 42.2%, 25.88% and 18.97% increase in Young's modulus, ultimate stress and yield stress were seen. The analysis of specimens' fracture surface was performed to observe the failure modes and dispersion of nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix. The results revealed that mechanical properties can change significantly by adding two different nanoparticles, simultaneously.