Damping Augmentation of Nanocomposites Using Carbon Nanofiber Paper

Abstract

Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process was used to fabricate the nanocomposites through integrating carbon nanofiber paper into traditional glass fiber reinforced composites. The carbon nanofiber paper had a porous structure with highly entangled carbon nanofibers and short glass fibers. In this study, the carbon nanofiber paper was employed as an interlayer and surface layer of composite laminates to enhance the damping properties. Experiments conducted using the nanocomposite beam indicated up to 200–700% increase of the damping ratios at higher frequencies. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization of the carbon nanofiber paper and the nanocomposites was also conducted to investigate the impregnation of carbon nanofiber paper by the resin during the VARTM process and the mechanics of damping augmentation. The study showed a complete penetration of the resin through the carbon nanofiber paper. The connectivities between carbon nanofibers and short glass fibers within the carbon nanofiber paper were responsible for the significant energy dissipation in the nanocomposites during the damping tests.

Vibratory behaviour of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) interleaved with nylon nanofibers

“…The possible reason of the marginal increase when the content of clay nanofibers is more than 3% might be that the formation of clusters of nanofibers. Others authors as [29,30] also observed a very slight change in the natural frequencies due to inclusion of nanofibers. In general the change in the stiffness of the nano-enriched composite depends on nano-inclusion and its properties.…”

“…This work found that damping ratio of carbon fibre composite panels reinforced with nylon nanofibers is about 62% higher than the damping of virgin panels. Another study conducted by Jihua Gou et al [29] indicated that the damping ratio of composite laminates enriched with carbon nanotubes was up to 200% higher as compared to the damping in virgin composites. Naser Kordani et al [30] also concluded that the damping ratio can increase considerably due the inclusion of nanofibers.…”

Electrical actuation and shape recovery control of shape-memory polymer nanocomposites

“…Electrically actuating SMPs by electrical resistive heating has been intensively studied. By mixing carbon black and chopped short carbon fiber into styrene-based SMP, Lu et al [17] successfully actuated the SMPs by electrical resistivity heat. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have also been used as conductive filler for the actuation of SMPs [18].…”

“…Moreover, those traditional fabrication methods cannot achieve high-level nanoparticles loading, which is critical for enhancing the conductivity of SMP nanocomposites. Recently, a unique technique of pre-forming conductive CNFs as a sheet or paper has been explored for multifunctional material applications [16,17]. High-quality self-assembled CNFP is made by infiltrating the suspension of CNFs through a hydrophilic or hydrophobic membrane.…”

Modal analysis of pre and post impacted nano composite laminates

“…Nano particles make a better inter phase property which affect the damping characteristics of composites [18]. Jiua et al [9] conducted experiments on nano composite beams and showed 200-700% increase in damping ratios at higher frequencies. Antonio et al [2] worked on low velocity impact response of fiber glass-epoxy-laminate with 1%, to 10% organically modified MMT ceramic nanoclay and observed some variation in natural frequencies and also observed that 5% clay addition is optimum for improvement in damping.…”