Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:563-569.

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of adding 1 vol% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into
woven kenaf/epoxy laminated composites on their flexural properties and to compare between two techniques used to
incorporate MWCNT into the composite which are spraying and solution techniques. Furthermore, the effect of MWCNT
addition in woven glass/woven kenaf/epoxy hybrid composites at the same filler concentration on the flexural properties
were also investigated. All the laminated composites with and without MWCNT were fabricated using vacuum bagging
method. The flexural properties of the composite samples with and without MWCNT were evaluated by applying threepoint
bending test. The results were supported by morphological observation. It was found that the addition of MWCNT
using both spraying and solution techniques reduced the flexural strength and flexural modulus of MWCNT/woven kenaf/
epoxy composites, with obvious reduction trend was shown by former technique. The morphological observation of the
composites fracture surface showed that delamination failure occurred in MWCNT/woven kenaf/epoxy laminated composite
prepared by spraying technique. Further investigation on hybrid composites showed that MWCNT/woven glass/woven
kenaf/epoxy laminated hybrid composites exhibited significant improvement in the flexural properties.