Open Access

ARTICLE

Flammabilty and Mechanical Performance of MWCNT Incorporated Cyante Ester/Carbon Fiber Composites

JITENDRA. S. TATE^1,2,*, HARISH KALLAGUNTA^1,2, ANDREW ALVAREZ¹

1 Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University
2 Materials Science Engineering and Commercialization, Texas State University 601 University Dr, San Marcos, Texas, 78666

* Corresponding Author: e-mail:

Journal of Polymer Materials 2021, 38(1-2), 101-120. https://doi.org/10.32381/JPM.2021.38.1-2.9

Abstract

The exponential growth in composites and their increased use in military, aerospace, energy, and automotive industry is driven by their high performance and light weight. High performance thermosetting polymers such as cyanate ester have received considerable attention due to its ability of volatile-free curing. It also offers advantages such as excellent radiation shielding, high thermal stability, and hydrophobicity with lots of potential for enhanced mechanical strength. This research article discusses the results of effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) at predetermined loading levels of 0.5wt%, 1wt% and 1.5wt% on mechanical, thermal and flammability properties of cyanate ester modified carbon fiber composites. The static mechanical tests indicated 1wt% loading level of MWCNT as optimal loading with an improvement of 19% in tensile strength, 22% in flexure strength, 53% in compressive strength. Thermogravimetric analysis studies revealed that MWCNT has negative effect on thermal stability of cyanate ester resin. The flammability properties assessed based on micro combustion calorimetry studies indicated that the final composites possess excellent flammability properties as indicated by the HRR and HRC.

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