Impact behaviors of composite plates filled with chitosan/carbon nanotubes

Abstract

In this study, the effects of chitosan (1%, 2%, and 3%), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%), and chitosan-carbon nanotube hybrid (1%, 2%, and 3% chitosan + 0.3% carbon nanotube) additions at different rates on the impact behaviors and the damage mechanisms of the E-glass/epoxy composite plates were investigated experimentally. The low-velocity drop impact testing was applied to the composite plates under different impact energies. The impact energy varied between 5 J and 30 J and it was possible to examine the impact response and the damage mechanism until the starting of the penetration of the composite plates. The experimental results revealed that the absorbed impact energies in chitosan and chitosan + carbon nanotube-filled composite plates were slightly higher than those in carbon nanotube-filled composite plates. The best energy absorption performances were obtained in chitosan + carbon nanotube hybrid filled composite plates when compared to all other composite plates and the neat composite plate. A certain amount of improvement in the impact strengths of the filled composite plates was observed when compared to neat composite plate. By increasing the impact energy, the fibers on the front surface were increasingly separated from the surface in an elliptical form, and the matrix cracking and the fiber breakages occurred throughout a line on the back surface.