Fracture Toughness (Mode-I) of Para-Aramid/Phenolic Nano Preform Composites

The mode-I interlaminar toughness properties of nanostitched para-aramid/phenolic multiwall carbon nanotube composites were studied. The toughness strength of the stitched and stitched/nano composites demonstrated 40 fold and 38 fold (beam theory) increases compared to the base composites, respectively. It was found that stitching yarn type, especially prepreg para-aramid stitching yarn, was effective. On the other hand, the initiation and propagation of the G_IC values for stitched and stitched/nano composites were considerably deviated due to strengthening mechanism of the para-aramid stitch yarn in the transverse direction of the composite. The fracture toughness resistance to arrest crack propagation in the stitched/nano composite was mainly due to through-the-thickness stitching fiber bridging and pull-out, and was also due to warp and weft directional fiber bridging and multiwall carbon nanotubes. The results demonstrated that mainly stitching and some extent the nanotubes arrested the crack growth. Therefore, the stitched/nano and especially stitched para-aramid/phenolic composites showed a better damage resistance performance.