The shear strength of the 0.1% M-FRC sample showed a 23% increase relative to the neat FRC sample. Interestingly, the shear strength of the 1% M-FRC sample showed a nominal increase of only 8% relative to the neat FRC sample.
The small increase in the 1% M-FRC may be due to an inhomogeneous dispersion of the CNFs within the nanophased polymer matrix and/or inhomogeneous wetting of the glass fibers with the nanophased polymer matrix.