The interfacial performance
between metals and resins significantly
affects the mechanical properties of fiber–metal laminates.
In this study, CNTs were deposited on a titanium surface via electrophoretic
deposition (EPD) to improve the interfacial performance of Ti/carbon
fiber-reinforced polymer composite laminates. Before EPD, the titanium
plates were treated by either sandblasting, anodizing, or sandblasting/anodizing.
A macroscopically rough surface and an oxide layer were formed by
sandblasting and anodizing, then CNTs were deposited, and a porous
layer was obtained, which improved the wettability and bonding strength.
Finally, the static mechanical properties (single-lap properties,
bending properties, and interlaminar shear properties) and dynamic
mechanical properties (impact resistance) of the laminates were systematically
explored. The introduction of CNTs played an important role in dispersing
and carrying loads and providing a strong crack propagation resistance,
which improved the laminates’ static mechanical properties
and reduced the delamination damage under dynamic impact. Compared
with the original composite laminates, the bond strength, bending
strength, and interlaminar shear strength of the laminates deposited
with CNTs after sandblasting were increased by 117.94, 46.85, and
145.61%, respectively. When the impact energy was 35 J, the damage
area of the composite laminate deposited with CNTs was decreased by
27.75%.