Simultaneously improved solid particle erosion resistant and strength of graphene nanoplates/carbon nanotube enhanced thermoplastic polyurethane films

Abstract

Up to now, it is a major challenge to protect leading edge of the blades from solid particle erosion. Herein, we propose a structure optimization strategy to fabricate non‐woven (NW) enhanced thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposite films (thermoplastic polyurethane [TPU]‐NW@G/Cx) with “sandwich‐like” structure by hot pressing technology. TPU NW/graphene nanoplates/carbon nanotube (NW@G/Cx) interlayer film were first fabricated by spraying method. Then the interlayer film was laminated between TPU films to fabricate nanocomposite films. Such prepared TPU‐NW@G/Cx film shows excellent solid particle erosion resistance and high‐tensile strength. For example, the “steel‐and‐mortar” structure of NW fabric in TPU film results in high‐tensile strength of 45 MPa and storage modulus of 21.2 MPa for TPU‐NW@G/C1.0, increasing by 25% and 171% compared with original TPU film (35 MPa, 8 MPa), respectively. In addition, compared with pure TPU film, the “sandwich‐like” structure endows TPU‐NW@G/C1.2 with excellent solid particle erosion resistance and the thermal conductivity (0.251 W/m·K). These superior properties extends application of the TPU‐NW@G/Cx film on wind turbine blades.

High erosion resistance thermoplastic polyurethanes composites fabricated via intercalation reinforced interfacial interaction

“…The above mixture was denoted as PG/C. In previous study, 1.0 mg/mL GNP/CNT solution (G/C) can endow the TPU‐NW@G/C 1.0 composites with great properties 36 . Thus, nonwoven (NW) was immerged into 1.0 mg/mL GNP, PG, and PG/C solution with ultrasonic for 10 min and then was dried in a vacuum oven at 80°C and noted as NW@GNP 1.0 , NW@PG 1.0 , and NW@PG/C 1.0 .…”