Development and Characterisation of Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Authors

  • D. O Fakorede Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Cross Rivers State, Calabar
  • A. E. Daodu, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Cross Rivers State, Calabar
  • A. T Oyewo Mechanical Engineering Department, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
  • M. T. Atolagbe Mechanical Engineering Department, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36108/ujees/5202.70.0131

Keywords:

polymer composites,, Carbon fibre,, mechanical properties,, Thermal properties, microstructural characteristics.

Abstract

Epoxy composites, in their pure form, generally lack strength, but this limitation can be overcome by integrating carbon fibre, a resource often discarded after fruit harvesting. The addition of carbon fibre, a sustainable and eco-friendly material, offers considerable potential to enhance the strength and resilience of the resulting composite. This study investigated the potential
of reinforcing epoxy with carbon fibre to create high-strength composites. Carbon fibre, a sustainable and eco-friendly material, was added to epoxy in varying volume percentages (0-20%) using a hand lay-up method. The results showed that the epoxy composite reinforced with 20 vol.% carbon fibre exhibited superior mechanical properties, including increased hardness (55 BHN), impact strength (5.1 J), and thermal stability (15.0% mass residue). The composite also displayed a well-distributed fibre arrangement with minimal agglomeration and voids. These findings demonstrate that reinforcing epoxy with 20 vol.% carbon fibre can significantly enhance its properties, making it suitable for high-strength applications. The use of carbon fibre, a renewable alternative to fossil fuel-based products, offers environmental benefits and a sustainable solution for composite materials.

Downloads

Published

2025-11-21

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025): Volume 7, Number 1, 2025

Section

Articles