Plain para-aramid/phenolic multiwall carbon nanotubes prepreg/multistiched preform composites: Experimental characterization of mode-I toughness

The fracture toughness (mode-I) properties of nanostitched para-aramid/phenolic multiwall carbon nanotube prepreg composites were investigated. The fracture toughness (G(IC)) of the stitching and nanostitched composites showed 42-fold and 41-fold (beam theory), 18-fold and 21-fold (modified beam theory) increase compared to the control, respectively. The prepreg para-aramid stitching yarn and nanostitched yarn were dominant parameters. The toughness resistance to arrest crack growth in the nanostitched composite was primarily due to nanostitching fiber bridging and pull-out, and was secondarily due to nanotubes and biaxial fiber bridging and pull-out. The failed surfaces of the nanostitched and stitching composites had tensile filament failures in the aramid stitching fibers where filament/matrix/nanotube debonding and axial filament fibrillar splitting were found. The results indicated that stitching yarn and the nanotubes arrested the crack propagation. Therefore, the nanostitched and stitched para-aramid/phenolic composites displayed a better damage resistance performance compared to those of the control or nanotube composites