Facile Strategy of Improving Interfacial Strength of Silicone Resin Composites Through Self-Polymerized Polydopamine Followed via the Sol-Gel Growing of Silica Nanoparticles onto Carbon Fiber

Abstract

In the present research, to enhance interfacial wettability and adhesion between carbon fibers (CFs) and matrix resin, hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (SiO2) were utilized to graft the surface of CFs. Polydopamine (PDA) as a “bio-glue” was architecturally built between SiO2 and CFs to obtain a strong adhesion strength and homogenous SiO2 distribution onto the surface of CFs. The facile modification strategy was designed by self-polymerization of dopamine followed by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) onto carbon fibers. Surface microstructures and interfacial properties of CFs, before and after modification, were systematically investigated. The tight and homogeneous coverage of SiO2 layers onto the CF surface, with the assistance of a PDA layer by self-polymerization of dopamine, significantly enhanced fiber surface roughness and wettability, resulting in an obvious improvement of mechanical interlocking and interfacial interactions between CFs and matrix resin. The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of CF/PDA/SiO2 reinforced composites exhibited 57.28% and 41.84% enhancements compared with those of untreated composites. In addition, impact strength and the hydrothermal aging resistance of the resulting composites showed great improvements after modification. The possible reinforcing mechanisms during the modification process have been discussed. This novel strategy of developed SiO2-modified CFs has interesting potential for interfacial improvements for advanced polymer composites.

Silicone Rubber Composites with High Breakdown Strength and Low Dielectric Loss Based on Polydopamine Coated Mica

“…Previously, we have successfully coated some inorganic fillers with polydopamine, which were further modified with secondary reaction because of the existing catechol groups of polydopamine [21,22]. Some recent reports also confirmed that polydopamine could be easily coated onto the surface of the nanoparticles [23][24][25].…”

Modification of Renewable Cardanol onto Carbon Fiber for the Improved Interfacial Properties of Advanced Polymer Composites

“…Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composites have attracted scientific attention from many groups aiming for scientific research and industrial utilization, and are widely used as novel engineering materials in many fields because of their high tensile strength, light weight, and outstanding environmental stability [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Nevertheless, the practical application of carbon fiber (CF) composites has been limited because of the fibers' inert and smooth surfaces, as well as the poor quality of the resultant fiber-matrix interface [7][8][9].…”

Construction of double grafted interfacial layer to improve thermal and mechanical properties of short carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 6 composites

“…Carbon ber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have a wide application in the elds of aerospace, automotive, and defense industries because of its excellent performance such as strong modulus, light weight, and environmental friendly [1][2][3]. However, ber surface is smooth and insu cient the active groups lead to a weak interface strength between CF and matrix, which limited wide-ranging application of the CFRP [4]. Previous investigations have attempted to avoid crack initiation and propagation in CFRP via improving the interfacial adhesion between CF and polymer [5,6].…”