Multiscale Carbon Nanotube-Carbon Fiber Reinforcement for Advanced Epoxy Composites with High Interfacial strength

Abstract

In this study, carbon nanotubes were chemically grafted on carbon fibers using PAMAM functionalization. Single-fiber composites with the carbon nanotube/carbon fiber (CNT/CF) multi-scale reinforcement were fabricated to examine the influence of local nanotube reinforcement on load transfer at the fiber/matrix interface. Molecular simulations of the epoxy resin composites with a CNT/CF multi-scale reinforcement and an unsized CF were performed employing Materials Studio 4.0 software. Results show that the interfacial shearing strength (IFSS) of the CNT/CF composite is up to 116.98 MPa, an increment of 170% in comparison with that of the unsized T300 CF composite. The results of molecular simulations show that interaction energy of CNT/CF multi-scale composite is up to 929.83 kcal/mol, which is 2.7 times higher than that of the unsized one. This significant enhancement of interfacial shear strength can be attributed to two aspects: (i) Van der Waals binding and mechanical interlocking increase due to the CNTs addition, (ii) chemical bonding and surface wetting increase caused by the layer of PAMAM dendrimers.

A novel joining method by using carbon nanotube-based thermoplastic film for injection over-molding process

“…15,16 Aligned CNTs, which are grown on carbon fiber (CF) surfaces via chemical vapor deposition method, can provide 3D reinforcement at the interlaminar regions. 15–20 Garcia et al. 15 showed a 69% improvement in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and Wicks et al.…”

Galvanically Stimulated Degradation of Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Critical Review

“…Recent trends in the evolution of modified carbon fiber based polymer composites appear to be quadro-pronged; towards nano-modification of fiber–matrix composite systems by use of carbon nanotubes and nano-fibers [ 155 , 223 , 224 , 225 , 226 , 227 , 228 , 229 , 230 , 231 , 232 ], the combined usage of nanometric reinforcing phases and nanometric matrix phases [ 191 , 223 , 224 , 225 , 226 , 227 , 228 , 229 , 230 , 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 ], the use of a composite matrix phase [ 236 , 237 , 238 , 239 ] or nano-composite polymer matrix phase [ 155 , 240 , 241 , 242 , 243 ] and nanometric modification of the interfacial region of the composite between the carbon fibers and the matrix [ 191 , 234 , 235 , 244 , 245 , 246 , 247 , 248 ], in attempts at improving the properties of the matrix phase. Many recently reported research efforts at improving the properties of carbon-fiber reinforced polymers by modification of the polymer matrix have been directed at using micro- and nano-sized particles as filler material for the epoxy [ 155 ] many of which have involved the use of carbon nanotubes/nanofibers (CNTs/CNFs).…”

Hybrid and Hierarchical Composite Materials

“…Molecular modeling methods have also been used to understand differences in component interactions relevant to load transfer in hierarchical composites (Mei et al 2011). Molecular dynamics was used to understand how adding a polymer grafted CNT coating to carbon fiber influences the IFSS of a hierarchical composite.…”