Mechanical properties of polyimide composite reinforced with carbon nanotubes and carbon fibers

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were introduced into carbon fiber (CF) by chemical vapor deposition and then were incorporated in the polyimide (PI) composites. The effects of CNTs on mechanical properties of CF/PI composites were investigated. Results showed that the mechanical properties of the composites prepared from CNT filled one are found to be much better compared to those of untreated ones. Tensile strengths of the composites of both raw and treated CF/PI composites showed a decreasing trend with increasing filler content. However, the values for the treated CF/PI composites at all mixing ratios are found to be higher than that of neat PI. The surface morphologies of the fractured surfaces of the composites were recorded using scanning electron microscopy to gain information about the fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion in the composites.