Effects of fiber surface grafting by functionalized carbon nanotubes on the interfacial durability during cryogenic testing and conditioning of CFRP composites

Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy (CE) composite is ideal for a cryogenic fuel storage tank in space applications due to its unmatched specific strength and modulus. In this article, inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) of carbon fiber/epoxy (CE) composite is shown to be considerably improved by engineering the interface with carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (FCNT) using electrophoretic deposition technique. FCNT deposited fibers from different bath concentrations (0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 g/L) were used to fabricate the laminates, which were then tested at room (30°C) and in-situ liquid nitrogen (LN) (−196°C) temperature as well as conditioning for different time durations (0.25, 0.5, 1, 6, and 12 h) followed by immediate RT testing to study the applicability of these engineered materials at the cryogenic environment. A maximum increment in ILSS was noticed at bath concentration of 0.5 g/L, which was ~21% and ~ 17% higher than neat composite at 30°C and − 196°C, respectively. Short-term LN conditioning was found to be detrimental due to developed cryogenic shock, which was further found to be compensated by cryogenic interfacial clamping upon long-term exposure.     

Effects of novolac resin modification on mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites

The epoxy resin matrix of carbon fiber (CF)‐reinforced epoxy composites was modified with novolac resin (NR) to improve the matrix‐dominated mechanical properties of composites. Flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and impact strength were measured with unfilled, 7 wt% NR, 13 wt% NR, and 18 wt% NR filled to epoxy to identify the effect of adding NR on the mechanical properties of composites. The results showed that both interfacial and impact properties of composites were improved except for flexural property. The largest improvement in ILSS and impact strength were obtained with 13 wt% loading of NR. ILSS and impact strength were improved by 7.3% and 38.6%, respectively, compared with the composite without NR. The fracture and surface morphologies of the composite specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Intimate bonding of the fibers and the matrix was evident with the content of 7–13 wt% NR range. Decrease of crosslinking density and formation of NR transition layer were deduced with adding NR. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Characterization of a rigid silicone resin

Silicone resins have been used as binders for ceramic frit coatings and can withstand temperatures of 650°C to 1260°C. Conceptually, silicone resins can potentially be used as matrices for high temperature fiber‐reinforced composites. The mechanical and thermal properties of a commercially available silicone resin, Dow Corning® 6‐2230, were characterized. Neat 6‐2230 resin was found to have inferior room temperature mechanical properties such as flexural, tensile and fracture properties when compared to epoxy. The room temperature flexural properties and short beam shear strength of the silicone/glass composites were also found to be lower than those of epoxy/glass composite with similar glass content. However, the silicone resin had better elevated temperature properties. At an elevated temperature of 316°C, the retentions of flexural modulus and strength were 80% and 40% respectively of room temperature values; these were superior to those of phenolic/glass. Unlike the carbon‐based resins, the drop in flexural properties of the silicon/glass laminates with temperature leveled off with increase in temperature beyond 250°C. The resin weight loss at 316°C in 100 cm³/min of flowing air was small compared to other carbon‐based resins such as PMR‐15 and LaRC TPI. Only Avimid‐N appeared comparable to Dow Corning® 6‐2230.     

碳纤维/聚苯并(噁)嗪复合材料的界面与力学性能的关系研究

本文采用含不同上胶剂的碳纤维与苯并(噁)嗪树脂复合,制备碳纤维/聚苯并(噁)嗪单向复合材料,研究了碳纤维表面上胶剂对于复合材料的层间剪切强度(ILSS)、弯曲性能、断口形貌及动态机械性能的影响.结果表明,含有环氧树脂上胶剂的碳纤维/苯并(噁)嗪树脂基复合材料(EPCF/PBZ)的ILSS和弯曲性能优于含非环氧类树脂上胶剂的碳纤维/苯并(噁)嗪树脂基复合材料(VECF/PBZ)和不含上胶剂的碳纤维/苯并(噁)嗪树脂基复合材料(USCF/PBZ).环氧树脂上胶剂改善了纤维与苯并(噁)嗪树脂的粘结性能,使复合材料的内耗峰峰高降低,能量损耗减小.电镜照片同样验证了这一结果.     

CE/EP/CF复合材料的湿热性能研究

采用溶液预浸渍法分别制备了两种碳纤维(CF)增强环氧树脂(EP)改性氰酸酯树脂(CE)(CE/EP/CF)复合材料,研究了该复合材料的吸湿行为及湿热环境对其力学性能和微观结构的影响。结果表明,CE/EP基体具有比EP更小的吸湿能力;湿热环境对CE/EP/CF复合材料的纵向拉伸强度影响不大,但对其层间剪切强度的影响较为显著。     

Incorporation of silicon dioxide nanoparticles at the carbon fiber‐epoxy matrix interphase and its effect on composite mechanical properties

Functionalized silicon dioxide nanoparticles (nano‐fSiO₂) were uniformly deposited on the surface of carbon fibers (CFs) using a coating process which consisted of immersing the fibers directly in a suspension of nano‐fSiO₂ particles and epoxy monomers in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP). The 0° flexural properties, 90° flexural properties, and Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) mechanical properties of unidirectional epoxy composites made with nano‐fSiO₂+epoxy sized carbon fibers, with control fibers, and with epoxy‐only sized fibers were measured and compared. An obvious increase of the fiber/matrix adherence strength was obtained with the nano‐fSiO₂+epoxy coating. The nano‐fSiO₂+epoxy sized CF/epoxy composites showed a relative increase of 15%, 50%, and 22% in comparison to control fibers, for the Interlaminar shear strength, the 90^° flexural strength and the 90° flexural modulus, respectively, but little e difference was measured between the different systems for the 0° flexural properties. The observation of the fracture surfaces by scanning electron microscopy of composite fracture confirmed the improvement of the interfacially dependent mechanical properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1474–1482, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Concentration effect of γ‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane on the mechanical properties of glass fiber–epoxy composites

In this study, glass fibers were modified using γ‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane of different concentrations to improve the interfacial adhesion at interfaces between fibers and matrix. Effects of γ‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of glass fiber/epoxy composites were investigated experimentally. Mechanical properties of the composites have been investigated by tensile tests, short beam tests, and flexural tests. The short‐beam method was used to measure the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of laminates. The tensile and flexural properties of composites were characterized by tensile and three‐point bending tests, respectively. The fracture surfaces of the composites were observed with a scanning electron microscope. On comparing the results obtained for the different concentrations of silane solution, it was found that the 0.5% GPS silane treatment provided the best mechanical properties. The ILSS value of heat‐cleaned glass fiber reinforced composite is enhanced by ∼59% as a result of the glass fiber treatment with 0.5% γ‐GPS. Also, an improvement of about 37% in tensile strength, about 78% in flexural strength of the composite with the 0.5% γ‐GPS treatment of glass fibers was observed. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of various methods of pre-treatment of carbon fibers on the mechanical properties of PIP-based ceramics/carbon composites

The purpose of the work was to determine the conditions of CF preparation to obtain carbide composites with favorable mechanical response. The relationships between the interfacial properties of fiber/polymethylsiloxane composite, and mechanical properties of the resulting fiber/carbide composites were investigated. The CF/resin interfacial strength was modified by oxidation of CF surface with nitric acid, silanization, and depositing CNT or a pyrolytic carbon layer (PyC). The study of composite interphases (ILSS and SEM) and surface tests of the modified CF (XPS, FT-IR, wettability measurements) showed different nature of the bonding occurring at the fiber/resin and fiber/ceramics boundary. The CF silanization significantly improved the ILSS between CFs and resin by 38.5%, while reduced flexural properties of carbide composites. The most promising treatment method of CF for PIP-based ceramic composites was modification with PyC, which provided 2 times higher ILSS, 1.5 times higher flexural strength and improved work to fracture (WF) as compared to unmodified CF.     

高温老化对碳纤维增强双马来酰亚胺树脂基复合材料力学性能的影响研究

本文对国产碳纤维增强双马来酰亚胺树脂复合材料进行了高温老化力学性能测试和分析,通过扫描电子显微镜分析了高温老化对碳纤维／双马复合材料力学性能的影响。结果表明,老化1000h的力学性能未出现明显下降趋势,纤维与树脂基体粘接牢固,界面完好,该复合材料的高温老化性能优异。     

Effect of deposited carbon nanotubes on interlaminar properties of carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites using a developed spraying processing

Carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites, with incorporated carboxylic multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs), were prepared using vacuum‐assisted resin infusion (VARI) molding, and the in‐plane and out‐of‐plane properties, including mode‐I (G_Ic) and mode‐II (G_IIc) interlaminar fracture toughness, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), tensile, and flexural properties were measured. A novel spraying technique, which sprays a kind of epoxy resin E20 with high viscosity after spraying the CNTs, was adopted to deposit the CNTs on the surface of carbon fiber fabric. The E20 was used to anchor CNTs on the fabric surface, avoiding that the deposited CNTs were removed by the infusing resin during VARI process. The spraying processing, including spraying amount and spraying sequence, was optimized based on the distribution of CNTs on the fibers. After that, three composite specimen groups were fabricated using different carbon fiber fabrics, including as‐received, CNT‐deposited with E20, and CNT‐deposited without E20. The effects of CNTs on the processing quality and mechanical properties of carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composites were studied. The experimental results show that all studied laminates have uniform thickness with designed values and no obvious defects form inside the laminates. Compared with the composite without CNTs, depositing CNTs with E20 increases by 24% in the average propagation G_Ic, by 11% in the propagation G_IIc and by 12% in the ILSS, while it preserves the in‐plane mechanical properties, However, depositing CNTs without E20 reduces interlaminar fracture toughness. These phenomena are attributed to the differences in the distribution of CNTs and the fiber/matrix interfacial bonding for different spraying processing. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

TDE-85/AG-80环氧树脂基复合材料微观形貌与力学性能分析

选用两种耐高温多官能团环氧树脂TDE-5和AG-80为基体,T300碳纤维为增强体制备了复合材料单向板,纤维体积含量均为60％。实验测得TDE-85树脂基体复合材料单向板的弯曲模量为74．26GPa,弯曲强度为1061．4MPa,层间剪切强度（ILSS）为54．05MPa;AG-80树脂基体复合材料单向板弯曲模量为55．73GPa,弯曲强度为840．52MPa,层间剪切强度（ILSS）为44．84MPa。前者的弯曲强度、弯曲模量与剪切强度也分别高出后者26．3％、33．2％与20．5％。实验对弯曲试样断口微观形貌的受压部分和受拉部分进行了SEM和高倍数码显微镜观察。结果显示,AG-80树脂基与碳纤维的界面结合情况较差,纤维成束被拔出,纤维表面几乎没有树脂。TDE-85树脂基与碳纤维界面结合情况较好,纤维与树脂结合比较紧密,断面较为平整,只有少量纤维拔出,表面粘附大量树脂。     

Improved thermomechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite using amino functionalized XDCNT

Carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites (CFEC) are fabricated infusing up to 0.40 wt % amino‐functionalized XD‐grade carbon nanotubes (XDCNT) using the compression molding process. Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and thermomechanical properties of these composites are evaluated through short beam shear and dynamic–mechanical thermal analysis tests. XDCNTs are infused into Epon 862 resin using a mechanical stirrer followed by sonication. After the sonication, the mixture was placed in a three roll milling processor for three successive cycles at 140 rpm for uniform dispersion of CNTs. Epikure W curing agent was then added to the resin using a high‐speed mechanical stirrer. Finally, the fiber was reinforced with the modified resin using the compressive mold. ILSS was observed to increase by 22% at 0.3 wt % XDCNT loading. Thermal properties, including storage modulus, glass transition temperature, and crosslink density demonstrated linear enhancement up to the 0.3 wt % XDCNT loading. Scanning electron microscopy revealed better interfacial bonding in the CNT‐loaded CFEC. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40709.     

Comparison of mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with stitched glass and carbon fabrics: Characterization of mechanical anisotropy in composites and investigation on the interaction between fiber and epoxy matrix

The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate and compare the mechanical properties of epoxy‐based composites having different fiber reinforcements. Glass and carbon fiber composite laminates were manufactured by vacuum infusion of epoxy resin into two commonly used noncrimp stitched fabric (NCF) types: unidirectional and biaxial fabrics. The effects of geometric variables on composite structural integrity and strength were illustrated. Hence, tensile and three‐point bending flexural tests were conducted up to failure on specimens strengthened with different layouts of fibrous plies in NCF. In this article, an important practical problem in fibrous composites, interlaminar shear strength as measured in short beam shear test, is discussed. The fabric composites were tested in three directions: at 0°, 45°, and 90°. In addition to the extensive efforts in elucidating the variation in the mechanical properties of noncrimp glass and carbon fabric reinforced laminates, the work presented here focuses, also, on the type of interactions that are established between fiber and epoxy matrix. The experiments, in conjunction with scanning electron photomicrographs of fractured surfaces of composites, were interpreted in an attempt to explain the failure mechanisms in the composite laminates broken in tension. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of fiber loading and orientation on mechanical and erosion wear behaviors of glass–epoxy composites

For a composite material, its mechanical behavior and surface damage by solid particle erosion depend on many factors. One of the most important factors is the fiber content. Similarly, these properties are also greatly affected by the fiber orientation. In this work, a series of experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of fiber loading and fiber orientation on mechanical and erosion behavior of glass fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites. The composites were fabricated with three different fiber loadings (20, 30, and 40 wt%) and at four different fiber orientations (15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°). The conclusions drawn on the basis of the experimental findings are discussed, and composite with 30° fiber orientation shows better microhardness compared with other fiber orientations irrespective of fiber loading. Similar observations are also noticed for other mechanical properties of the composites, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength, impact strength, etc. Finally, the morphology of eroded surfaces is examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and possible erosion mechanisms are identified. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of electrophoretic deposition process parameters on the mechanical properties of graphene carboxyl-grafted carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite

Carbon fiber (CF) modification by grafting of various graphene-based nanofillers (GBN) by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique was proven to be a successful technique to enhance the out-of-plane performance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Graphene carboxyl (G-COOH) grafting on carbon fiber by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a promising technique to improve the mechanical properties of CFRP composites. To our knowledge, there is a dearth of literature available on the effect of EPD process parameters on the mechanical behavior of modified CFRP composites. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of nanofiller concentration in the suspension, applied current, and the time of deposition during EPD on the mechanical behavior of nanophase CFRP composites, thus making it a novel work. With increasing concentration, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) improved consistently and has shown a maximum enhancement of 24.7% than that of neat CFRP composite at 1.5 g/L nanofiller concentration, whereas flexural strength remained almost unaffected with varying concentration. On the contrary, variation of deposition current has affected the flexural strength but not ILSS. The maximum flexural strength was obtained at a deposition current of 5.0A with an improvement of 16.3% in comparison with neat CFRP samples. However, both flexural strength and ILSS of hybrid CFRP composites have shown improvement with increasing deposition time. At 60 min of deposition, ILSS and flexural strength have shown maximum improvements of 35.0 and 26.6%, respectively, when compared to control specimen. After evaluating the effect of process parameters future scope of the work involves the optimization of parameters for EPD of G-COOH. Fractographic analysis of the fractured samples was performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to apprehend prominent failure mechanisms. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48925.     

连续玻纤增强聚丙烯混纤纱织物层压成型工艺研究

采用两种不同形式的混纤纱机织物为原料,利用层压成型的方法制备了连续玻璃纤维(GF)增强的聚丙烯(PP)板材。研究了层压温度、压力、保压时间和混纤纱机织物形式对层压板材的弯曲性能和层间剪切强度(ILSS)的影响。结果表明,当层压温度为230℃,层压压力为8.5 MPa,保压时间为30 min,降温过程冷却速度为0.5℃/min时,层压板材的力学性能最佳。弯曲强度和模量分别达到352.58 MPa、23.09 GPa,ILSS达到27.37 MPa。此时,纤维含量和空隙率分别为72.25%、2.03%。在最优工艺条件下制备的两种不同织物形式层压板材弯曲强度和弯曲模量以及ILSS:2/2斜纹织物平纹织物。两种织物层压板材的空隙率:2/2斜纹织物平纹织物。     

CNT基木塑复合材料的力学性能、电磁屏蔽性能

采用碳纤维(CF)和碳纳米管(CNT)通过模压工艺制备出具有电磁屏蔽功能的丙烯酸酯木塑复合材料。借助材料试验机、动态热机械分析仪、微欧计和电磁屏蔽测量仪等详细研究CNT质量分数对丙烯酸酯木塑复合材料弯曲性能、动态力学性能、电阻率和电磁屏蔽效能的影响。结果表明,添加质量分数为2%的CNT,使得复合材料的弯曲强度和弯曲弹性模量分别增加了10%和16%。复合材料的储能模量也在CNT质量分数为2%时达到最大值,之后储能模量随着CNT的增加而逐渐下降,损耗因子在CNT质量分数多于2%时也逐渐增加。复合材料的吸水率和导电性能随着CNT含量的增加而增加。同时复合材料的电磁屏蔽效能也随着CNT含量增加而递增。在30~1 500 MHz范围内,电磁屏蔽效能从27 d B增加到40 d B。结果证明,当CNT质量分数在2%时,丙烯酸酯木塑复合材料具有较佳的力学性能和较好的电磁屏蔽效能(30 d B),能满足商业要求。     

Preparation of multiscale graphene oxide‐carbon fabric and its effect on mechanical properties of hierarchical epoxy resin composite

Graphene oxide (GO) was used to modify the surface of carbon fiber layers through electrophoretic deposition, forming a multiscale reinforcement fabric. By adjusting the experimental parameters, the resulting GO‐carbon fabric showed productive and homogenous distribution of thin and less‐agglomerate GO platelets on carbon fiber surface, remarkably enlarging the surface area and roughness of carbon fabric. To investigate the effect of GO sheets on composites, GO‐carbon fabric and carbon fabric‐reinforced hierarchical epoxy resin composites were respectively manufactured. Mechanical tests demonstrated that after introducing GO flakes on carbon fabric, both the flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength of composite had achieved an increase, especially the interlaminar shear strength rising by 34%. Through fractography analysis, it was found that in pure carbon fabric‐reinforced epoxy composite, the fiber/matrix debonding fracture mechanism predominated, while after the GO decoration on carbon fiber surface, the composite featured a stronger interfacial bonding, leading to the enhancement in mechanical properties of hierarchical epoxy resin composite. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1515–1522, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube/carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer composite

Carbon nanotube (CNT)/carbon fiber (CF) hybrid fiber was fabricated by sizing unsized CF tow with a sizing agent containing CNT. The hybrid fiber was used to reinforce a thermoplastic polymer to prepare multiscale composite. The mechanical properties of the multiscale composite were characterized. Compared with the base composite (traditional commercial CF), the multiscale composite reinforced by the CNT/CF hybrid fiber shows increases in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and impact toughness. Laminate containing CNTs showed a 115.4% increase in ILSS and 27.0% increase in impact toughness. The reinforcing mechanism was also discussed by observing the impact fracture morphology. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2001–2008, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Study on BMI modified allyl‐functional novolac resin/silica cloth composites: Effect of allylation degree on thermal and mechanical properties

A series of allyl‐functional novolac resin with various allylation degree, from 32.4 to 114.6%, were synthesized and then blended reactively with 4,4′‐bismaleimide biphenyl methane (BMI) at a weight ratio of 2.50:1 to get BMI‐modified allyl‐functional novolac (BMAN) resins. BMAN resins were used as matrix resin to fabricate BMAN/Silica cloth composites by compression molding process. Heat‐resistant properties of the composites were evaluated by means of dynamic mechanical analysis. The results indicated that thermal resistance of the composites increased as allylation degree of BMAN resins increased. Mechanical properties of the composites, including interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and flexural strength at room temperature and 300°C, were determined, and the results showed that with increase in allylation degree of matrices the ILSS and flexural strength values of composites at room temperature decreased, but the values of ILSS and flexural strength at 300°C increased. Scanning electron microscope morphology analysis of fracture surface for composites revealed that tough interphase was responsible for the better mechanical properties of the composites based on lower allylation degree resins. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:180–185, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers