ABSTRACT
In certain application of fiber reinforced polymer composites fracture resistance is
required. The aim of this study was to improve the interfacial adhesion between plain
woven carbon fiber (CF) and epoxy matrix filled with 0.3% of nano-cellulose
(microfibrillated cellulose-MFC) modified with liquid rubber (carboxyl-terminated
butadiene acrylonitrile-CTBN) with different contents. CF/Epoxy/MFC/CTBN
composite was characterized by different techniques, namely tensile, fracture
toughness (mode I) test and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results reveal
that at a fibre content 0.3% of MFC and 1%CTBN, initiation and propagation
interlaminar fracture toughness in mode I improved significantly by 39% and 57%
respectively which could be attribute to strong adhesion between filled epoxy, carbon
fibre and rubber. This can be explained by SEM at given weight as well; SEM
images showed that in front of the tip, fiber breakage during initiation delimination as
well as the extensive matrix deformation between fibers accounting for increase
fracture toughness.