Abstract
Two types of organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) modified bismaleimide (BMI) nanocomposites based on 4,4'-bismaleimide diphenyl methane (BDM) and O,O'-diallyl bisphenol A (DBA) have been synthesized. A compression moulding process was used to fabricate carbon fibre-reinforced OMMT/BMI multiscale composites. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the silicate layers of OMMT were partially exfoliated and dispersed uniformly in the nanocomposites. The study showed that the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and flexural properties of the carbon fibre composites were improved by the incorporation of OMMT. The maximum increment of the ILSS, flexural strength and elastic modulus of carbon fibre composites were 19.09%, 38.26% and 26.97%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs revealed that the destruction modes of carbon fibre composites were also changed after the OMMT was introduced into the composites system.