Improved mechanical properties of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyimide composites by hot stretching

Abstract

High heat resistance composites based on thermoplastic polyimide resin and aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube sheets have been developed using hot-melt processing method with a vacuum-assisted system. The horizontally aligned carbon nanotube sheets were produced from vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays using drawing and press-winding techniques. Effects of processing conditions, carbon nanotube contents, and hot stretching on the mechanical properties of the composites were examined. The aligned carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyimide composites were fabricated successfully at a temperature of 410℃ under 2 MPa pressure. The surface morphologies of the composites showed high alignment and dense packing of carbon nanotubes, and a good impregnation of the thermoplastic polyimide matrix into the aligned carbon nanotube sheets. The best mechanical properties of the aligned carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyimide composites were achieved at the carbon nanotube volume fraction of about 50% in this study. Hot stretching of the aligned carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyimide composites at the temperatures above the glass transition temperature and below the melting temperature improved the mechanical properties of the composites considerably.

Effect of interlaminar basalt fiber veil reinforcement on mode I fracture toughness of basalt fiber composites

“…Therefore, they were developing rapidly and gradually catching up with thermoset composites, and have become a hot spot for research and application. 6,7 In the field of fiber-reinforced materials, basalt fiber (BF) was characterized by its low cost and excellent chemical and physical properties. 8,9 It was expected to replace traditional GFs and CFs in non-bearing structures, thus receiving increasing attention.…”

“…Compared with thermoset resin matrix composites, thermoplastic composites have the advantages of high toughness, high damage tolerance, and easy molding. Therefore, they were developing rapidly and gradually catching up with thermoset composites, and have become a hot spot for research and application 6,7 …”

Interlaminar properties of carbon nanotubes modified carbon fibre fabric reinforced polyimide composites

“…33 However, there are few studies on the nanomaterial modification of the laminated composites with PI as the matrix. [34][35][36][37] These studies have mainly focused on exploring the effects of nanomaterial modifications on the tensile, flexural and thermal properties of composites. There are fewer systematic studies on the effects of modification with nanomaterials on the interlaminar properties of composites.…”

Nano-engineered prepreg manufacturing: control of capillary rise of resin into VACNTs’ forests

“…In this context, the introduction of nanoconstituents has been proposed to reinforce composite structures throughout their thickness [13]. For example, several publications demonstrate that the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in matrix improves both the mechanical [14][15][16], electrical [17,18], and thermal [19][20][21][22] properties of composites. Improvements of in-plane and interlaminar properties of the composites with adjunction of VACNTs between composite plies are also observed [23][24][25].…”