Characterization of carbon nanotube enhanced interlaminar fracture toughness of woven carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites

In this study, the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the Mode I Interlaminar fracture toughness or the strain energy release rate of woven carbon fiber reinforced composites has been investigated and characterized by double cantilever beam tests. The CNTs were uniformly dispatched on the surface of woven carbon fiber prepregs with the CNT loading ranging from 0–4.0 g/m2 by an increment of 0.5 g/m2. The prepregs were then layered...