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Effective Elastic Modulus and Strengthening Mechanisms of CNT/Epoxy Composites: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study.

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Title: Effective Elastic Modulus and Strengthening Mechanisms of CNT/Epoxy Composites: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study.
Authors: Wang, Yalei1,2 (AUTHOR), Zhou, Jianqiu1,2 (AUTHOR) zhouj@njtech.edu.cn, Liu, Xiaohan1,2 (AUTHOR), Ding, Leilei2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Materials (1996-1944). Jun2026, Vol. 19 Issue 12, p2650. 16p.
Subjects: Elastic modulus, Strengthening mechanisms in solids, Mathematical models, Testing laboratories, Composite materials, Mechanical behavior of materials, Epoxy resins, Carbon nanotubes
Abstract: Carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced composites are promising advanced materials due to their exceptional mechanical properties. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of the mechanical behavior of CNT/epoxy composites through theoretical modeling and experimental validation. An equivalent cylindrical fiber model was developed to transform CNTs into effective reinforcement phases, enabling the application of classical composite mechanics. Three reinforcement configurations were analyzed: two unidirectional short fiber models (aligned and staggered) and a three-dimensional four-directional braided long-fiber model. The effects of geometric parameters, including the diameter-to-thickness ratio (D/t) and fiber aspect ratio, on the effective elastic moduli were systematically evaluated. Static and dynamic compression experiments were conducted using an MTS 810 testing system and a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) to examine the influence of loading rate, vacuum treatment, and reinforcement type (CNT, SiC, and hybrid SiC/CNT) on composite strength. The results indicated that 3 wt% CNT reinforcement increases the Young's modulus by 30% under static loading and enhanced the dynamic compressive strength under impact loading. The vacuum degassing process significantly affected composite quality, with insufficient vacuum leading to strength degradation due to void formation. Theoretical predictions using Mori–Tanaka and dilute methods showed good agreement with experimental results at low reinforcement volume fractions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform CNT dispersion and provided insights into failure mechanisms, including CNT pull-out and breakage. This work contributes to the understanding of structure–property relationships in CNT-reinforced polymer composites and provides guidelines for achieving their optimal design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Materials (1996-1944) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Effective Elastic Modulus and Strengthening Mechanisms of CNT/Epoxy Composites: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Materials+%281996-1944%29%22">Materials (1996-1944)</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 19 Issue 12, p2650. 16p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elastic+modulus%22">Elastic modulus</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Strengthening+mechanisms+in+solids%22">Strengthening mechanisms in solids</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematical+models%22">Mathematical models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Testing+laboratories%22">Testing laboratories</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Composite+materials%22">Composite materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mechanical+behavior+of+materials%22">Mechanical behavior of materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Epoxy+resins%22">Epoxy resins</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carbon+nanotubes%22">Carbon nanotubes</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced composites are promising advanced materials due to their exceptional mechanical properties. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of the mechanical behavior of CNT/epoxy composites through theoretical modeling and experimental validation. An equivalent cylindrical fiber model was developed to transform CNTs into effective reinforcement phases, enabling the application of classical composite mechanics. Three reinforcement configurations were analyzed: two unidirectional short fiber models (aligned and staggered) and a three-dimensional four-directional braided long-fiber model. The effects of geometric parameters, including the diameter-to-thickness ratio (D/t) and fiber aspect ratio, on the effective elastic moduli were systematically evaluated. Static and dynamic compression experiments were conducted using an MTS 810 testing system and a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) to examine the influence of loading rate, vacuum treatment, and reinforcement type (CNT, SiC, and hybrid SiC/CNT) on composite strength. The results indicated that 3 wt% CNT reinforcement increases the Young's modulus by 30% under static loading and enhanced the dynamic compressive strength under impact loading. The vacuum degassing process significantly affected composite quality, with insufficient vacuum leading to strength degradation due to void formation. Theoretical predictions using Mori–Tanaka and dilute methods showed good agreement with experimental results at low reinforcement volume fractions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform CNT dispersion and provided insights into failure mechanisms, including CNT pull-out and breakage. This work contributes to the understanding of structure–property relationships in CNT-reinforced polymer composites and provides guidelines for achieving their optimal design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Materials (1996-1944) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.3390/ma19122650
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 2650
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Elastic modulus
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Strengthening mechanisms in solids
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematical models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Testing laboratories
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Composite materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mechanical behavior of materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Epoxy resins
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Carbon nanotubes
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Effective Elastic Modulus and Strengthening Mechanisms of CNT/Epoxy Composites: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Wang, Yalei
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            NameFull: Zhou, Jianqiu
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            NameFull: Liu, Xiaohan
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            NameFull: Ding, Leilei
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            – D: 15
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 19
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              Value: 12
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            – TitleFull: Materials (1996-1944)
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