Carbon nanotube (CNT) composites are proven to be versatile
tools
in many fields by virtue of the multifunctional response. However,
the severe challenge in mass production of CNT-based composites has
become a bottleneck in both the science and engineering. To tackle
the issues, herein, we reported an effective approach toward preparing
densified and highly orientated CNT yarn/PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) composites
via pultrusion and filament wind processing. In this processing, CNT
yarn with a diameter of 150 μm, produced by twisting the CNT
film directly, was dipped into PVA polymer solution and then continuously
winded on a mandrel after squeezed by a pultrusion mold with a diameter
of 120 μm. As a result, the pultruded CNT yarn/PVA winding composites
(named as P-CNTY-WC), with the densified and aligned CNT yarn showed
a considerable tensile strength (708.38 MPa). Furthermore, its toughness
was 109.92 MJ m–3, much higher than those of the
reported high-performance fiber reinforced composites. Additionally,
the P-CNTY-WC possessed high electrical conductivity (207 S cm–1) and thus exhibited a rapid electrothermal performance
(reached to 221 °C at 1.5 V within 30 s). In view of the high
electrical performances, the electrothermal deicing application in
the aircraft wing was demonstrated. Thereby, the facile way and attractive
properties could provide insights into massive production of high-performance
structural composites with multifunctional applications.