Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Hybrid Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer / Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Composites by Thermogravimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy

The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polymers / single wall carbon nanotube (CFRP/SWCNT) composites has been performed. Five compositions with different SWCNT contents have been prepared and tested. During the test, the curves of the weight loss depending on the temperature have been registered. These dependences reflect the behavior of the composites during heating up to 600°C. The weight reduction is associated with the thermal decomposition of epoxy binder, and the final weight of CFRPs after testing differs for various compositions. It is shown that the addition of SWCNTs alters the thermal decomposition process: it starts earlier, but proceeds with slightly lower rates. It is suggested that residual metal particles in the supplied SWCNTs can act as catalysts. Investigations by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the SWCNTs are not affected by high temperatures during TGA and agglomerate in veil-like structures located in interlayers. The thickness and the area covered with these veils directly depends on the amount of SWCNTs in the initial hybrid CFRP composition.