The development of scalable Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) in-situ thermoset curing methods are required to overcome important drawbacks related to the autoclave-based processing methods typically used in industry. The incorporation of graphene, an electrothermal carbon nanomaterial with the ability to transform electric energy into heat through Joule heating, emerges as a promising route to replace the conventional processing methods. In this work the electrical behaviour of both uncured and oven cured GNPs/epoxy composites with loadings of up to 10 wt.% were evaluated and electrical percolation thresholds were established for both. Above the critical loading found for oven cured materials (~ 8.5 wt.%) the electrically conducting networks of GNPs formed in the matrix showed the ability to act as integrated nanoheaters when an electric current was passed through them, successfully curing the composites by Joule heating. Composites prepared by this OoA curing method (as an alternative to the traditional oven based one) at 10 wt.% loading of GNPs were also prepared and compared to the oven cured ones. They showed more compact composite 2 structures, with less microvoids and a preferred orientation of the GNPs in the matrix relative to the oven cured material at identical loading, as revealed by electron microscopy and polarized Raman spectroscopy, respectively. This microstructure and anisotropy induced by the electrically-induced (i.e. OoA) cure led to GNPs/epoxy composites with superior electrical and mechanical properties (revealed by tensile testing). The well-distributed GNP nanoparticles acting as nanoheaters integrated in a thermosetting matrix, in combination with excellent mechanical and electrical performances achieved for the overall graphene/epoxy composites and the simplicity associated to the method, should open the door to novel industrial applications.

There has been a substantial growth in using carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite materials in aerospace and automotive industries due to their superior properties. This experimental study presents results from a comprehensive and systematic study investigating the effects of cryogenic cooling on drilling performance and surface integrity characteristics of CFRP composite material. Experimental data on cutting edge radius of drill bit, outer corner wear of drill bit, trust force, torque, delamination factor, and surface integrity characteristics, including borehole subsurface damage and diameter error of drilled hole, are presented and analyzed comparing dry drilling with cryogenic cooling of CFRP composite material. The findings demonstrate that cryogenic cooling has a profound effect on reducing the cutting edge rounding of drill bit and outer corner wear; it also helps enhancing the surface integrity characteristics of produced hole. However, cryogenic cooling generates larger thrust force, torque, and thus larger delamination factor.

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