Study of the effect of carbon nanofiber reinforced epoxy adhesive on the flexural moment capacity of corner joints in furniture

In this study, the effect of epoxy resin modified by carbon nanofibers (CNFs) was investigated at three levels of zero, 0.4 and 1.5% on the strength properties of common corner joints in the furniture industry. Carbon nanofibers were dispersed in the adhesive polymer matrix by ultrasonic device and test specimens of joints were prepared using cut MDF pieces with desired dimensions and wooden dowel with diameters of 8 and 10 mm and penetration depth in two levels (D2 and D3) and using reinforced epoxy by CNFs. A total of 12 treatments with three replications were evaluated separately for each of the compressive and tensile tests and the flexural moment capacity of the joints specimens was evaluated at a speed of 3 mm/min. The results showed that by increasing the percentage of CNFs, diameter and penetration depth of dowel wood in the compression test, the flexural moment capacity 1.2,, 1.2 and 1.2 times, and in the tensile test 1.3, 1.1 and 1.2 times, respectively, increased compared to the control samples. In general, according to the research variables, it can be said that carbon nanofiber was able to improve the strength properties of epoxy resin and thus the joints. The level of 0.4% CNFS, diameter 10 mm and penetration depth of D2 dowel wood had the best effect on the strength of joints in two types of loading