3-Phase hierarchical graphene-based epoxy nanocomposite laminates for automotive applications

Two different types of graphene flakes were produced following solution processing methods and dispersed using shear mixing in a bifunctional (A) and a multifunctional (B) epoxy resin at a concentration of 0.8 and 0.6 wt%, respectively. The graphene/epoxy resin mixtures were used to impregnate unidirectional carbon fibre tapes. These prepregs were stacked (seven plies) and cured to produce laminates. The interlaminar fracture toughness (mode-I) of the carbon fiber/graphene epoxy laminates with resin B showed over 56% improvement compared with the laminate without graphene. Single lap joints were prepared using the laminates as adherents and polyurethane adhesives (Sika 7666 and Sika 7888). The addition of graphene improved considerably the adhesion strength from 3.3 to 21 MPa (sample prepared with resin A and Sika 7888) highlighting the potential of graphene as a secondary filler in carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites.     

单螺栓修复对含冲击损伤碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板压缩承载能力的影响

开展了单钉修复对含冲击损伤碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板压缩承载能力影响的试验研究。测试了三种不同能量冲击后碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板的压缩承载能力及失效模式,测定了单螺栓对碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板压缩承载能力的修复效率,并借助数字图像相关技术(DIC)表征手段揭示了单螺栓修复对含冲击损伤结构失效行为的影响。结果表明:冲击后碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板的压缩承载能力随着冲击能量的增加而降低,冲击损伤破坏了碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板结构的对称性,并导致结构在加载初期呈非对称的局部屈曲变形特征,局部屈曲诱发并加剧分层损伤扩展;单螺栓修复能有效恢复结构的整体对称性,在一定程度上抑制含冲击损伤碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板的局部屈曲,达到可观的修复效率。该研究为复合材料紧固件修理方案的制订及修理损伤容限的定义提供一定的指导意义。      

CF/EP composite laminates with carbon black and copper chloride for improved electrical conductivity and interlaminar fracture toughness

An experimental study was conducted to improve the electrical conductivity of continuous carbon fibre/epoxy (CF/EP) composite laminate, with simultaneous improvement in mechanical performance, by incorporating nano-scale carbon black (CB) particles and copper chloride (CC) electrolyte into the epoxy matrix. CF/EP laminates of 65 vol.% of carbon fibres were manufactured using a vacuum-assisted resin infusion (VARI) technique. The effects of CB and the synergy of CB/CC on electrical resistivity, tensile strength and elastic modulus and fracture toughness (K_IC) of the epoxy matrix were experimentally characterised, as well as the transverse tensile modulus and strength, Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness of the CF/EP laminates. The results showed that the addition of up to 3.0 wt.% CB in the epoxy matrix, with the assistance of CC, noticeably improved the electrical conductivity of the epoxy and the CF/EP laminates, with mechanical performance also enhanced to a certain extent.     

孔隙率对碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板湿热性能的影响

针对某飞机上应用的典型铺层[(±45)4/(0,90)/(±45)2]S和[(±45)/(0,90)2/(±45)]S,研究了孔隙对碳纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料层合板的吸湿行为和层间剪切强度的影响。采用不同的热压罐固化压力制备了不同孔隙率的试样。采用显微图像分析技术对孔隙率和孔隙的微观结构特征进行了详细的分析。研究结果表明:孔隙主要分布于层间,且随着孔隙率的增大,孔隙的尺寸增大;2种层合板的吸湿率和最大吸湿量随着孔隙率的增加而增加;湿热老化和未经湿热老化的层间剪切强度都随着孔隙率的增加而下降。铺层[(±45)4/(0,90)/(±45)2]S未经湿热和湿热后的层间剪切强度随着孔隙率增加分别下降6%(孔隙率:0.6%~6.3%)和9%(孔隙率:0.4%~7.0%);铺层[(±45)/(0,90)2/(±45)]S未经湿热和湿热后的层间剪切强度随着孔隙率增加分别下降14%(孔隙率:0.4%~6.9%)和7%(孔隙率:0.2%~8.9%)。     

CALL混杂复合材料的弯曲试验研究

本文用高灵敏度云纹干涉法对CALL混杂复合材料在纤维方向和垂直于纤维方向的弯曲及破坏特性进行了实验研究,得到了弯曲试件横截面上的剪应变分布规律及破坏形式。实验结果表明:碳纤维/环氧树脂层的剪应变明显大于铝层的剪应变,但各自沿截面呈抛物线分布。纤维方向弯曲试件的破坏形式是分层或碳纤维/环氧树脂层剪切破坏;垂直于纤维方向弯曲试件的破坏由受拉面碳纤维/环氧树脂层的拉伸破坏所致。本文工作为进一步深入研究CALL材料的力学性能提供了重要的实验依据。     

静电植绒法处理多壁碳纳米管改性玻纤织物/环氧树脂复合材料的制备及力学性能

为提高玻纤增强环氧树脂复合材料的力学性能,采用静电植绒法将多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)附着在玻纤织物表面,得到改性的玻纤织物。利用一种低黏度的环氧树脂和所制得的改性织物,采用真空辅助成型工艺(VARI)制备了MWCNTs改性格玻纤织物/环氧树脂复合材料层合板,表征了层合板的力学性能。对进行力学实验后的MWCNTs改性玻纤织物/环氧树脂复合材料试样断口进行了SEM和OPM观察。结果显示:与未添加MWCNTs的玻纤织物/环氧树脂复合材料层合板相比,添加了MWCNTs的层合板的拉伸强度降低了10.24%,弯曲强度降低了13.90%,压缩强度降低了17.33%,拉伸模量和弯曲模量分别提高了19.38%和16.04%,压缩模量提高了13%;MWCNTs与玻纤织物之间的结合较弱,在拉伸作用下,存在明显的脱粘和分层;将改性玻纤织物在200℃下热压处理2h后,制备的MWCNTs改性玻纤织物/环氧树脂复合材料层合板的力学性能均有所提高,热压处理后树脂与玻纤织物之间的界面结合得到改善。     

不同官能化碳纳米管对MWCNTs-碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料力学性能的影响

为研究加入不同官能化碳纳米管对环氧树脂力学性能的影响,通过对羧基化多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTsCOOH)进行化学处理,得到表面接枝乙二胺的碳纳米管(MWCNTs-EDA)。分别将MWCNTs-COOH和MWCNTs-EDA分散在环氧树脂中,通过热熔法制备环氧树脂中含有碳纳米管的T700碳纤维预浸料,并热压成准各向同性复合材料层合板。结果表明:MWCNTs-EDA在环氧树脂中的分散性优于MWCNTs-COOH,MWCNTsEDA本身具有固化反应活性,加入后对基体的交联密度影响较小。与MWCNTs-COOH相比,MWCNTs-EDA可以有效改善环氧树脂及碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的力学性能。当MWCNTs-EDA含量为1.0wt%时,MWCNTs-碳纤维/环氧树脂准各向同性复合材料层合板的压缩性能、弯曲性能和冲击后压缩强度分别提高了14.7%、40.9%和20.6%。     

A single-lap shear specimen for determining the effect of strain rate on the interlaminar shear strength of carbon fibre-reinforced laminates

A new design of single-lap shear specimen for determining the effect of loading rate on the interlaminar shear strength of laminated composites is described. Finite element analyses are used to optimize the specimen geometry and minimize the variation in the shear stress and the magnitude of the normal stress along the interlaminar failure plane. Experimental results are obtained at a quasi-static and an impact rate of loading for the interlaminar shear strength parallel to the fibres in both unidirectional carbon/epoxy and unidirectional carbon/polyetheretherketone (peek) laminates and at interfaces across which the fibre orientation is 0°/90° and ±45°. Results for carbon/epoxy laminates are compared with those from an earlier investigation using a double-lap specimen geometry and show a similar small dependence on loading rate. No significant effect of loading rate was observed for the carbon/peek laminates.     

一种碳纤维/环氧预浸料的微波固化特性及其层合板的微波固化工艺研究

采用差示扫描量热法(DSC)和傅里叶变换红外光谱法(FTIR)研究一种碳纤维/环氧预浸料在微波辐射下的固化特性,并对碳纤维/环氧预浸料层合板的微波固化-真空袋成型工艺中存在的真空袋易过热破损的问题进行研究。结果表明:与热固化相比,微波固化能够明显缩短固化时间,而且不会改变最终固化产物的分子结构;碳纤维/环氧预浸料的尺寸大小对其微波固化行为有一定的影响;通过控制微波功率,可以有效地解决在碳纤维/环氧复合材料微波固化过程中存在的真空袋过热破损的问题,且微波固化可获得固化时间控制在60min左右、固化度达95%以上的碳纤维/环氧复合材料层合板,微波固化时间比传统热固化(固化时间大于2h)缩短了一半以上。     

基于纤维束/环氧树脂复合材料试验的单向层合板横向拉伸强度预测方法

实验研究表明,纤维束/环氧树脂复合材料试件的横向拉伸强度与工程上常用的单向层合板横向拉伸强度在趋势上具有很好的相关性,但是数值上存在一定差距。本文使用两种碳纤维和两种环氧树脂制备了三种纤维束/环氧树脂复合材料和单向层合板,并分别测量了纤维束/环氧树脂复合材料和单向层合板的横向拉伸强度,以及环氧基体的拉伸强度。在实验基础上,应用Griffith断裂强度理论建立了纤维束/环氧树脂复合材料和单向层合板的横向拉伸强度的关系模型,通过两种复合材料实验的结果拟合了该模型中的参数。利用第三种复合材料实验进行校验,发现该模型预测的单向层合板横向拉伸强度与实测强度之间达到很好的一致性,相对偏差为9%。采用本文提出的方法,可以用较为简单的纤维束/环氧树脂复合材料和环氧基体拉伸试验预测单向层合板的横向拉伸强度。     

Reinforcement effects of MWCNT and VGCF in bulk composites and interlayer of CFRP laminates

The reinforcement effects of two nanofillers, i.e., multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF), which are used at the interface of conventional CFRP laminates, and in epoxy bulk composites, have been investigated. When using the two nanofillers at the interface between two conventional CFRP sublaminates, the Mode-I interlaminar tensile strength and fracture toughness of CFRP laminates are improved significantly. The performance of VGCF is better than that of MWCNT in this case. For epoxy bulk composites, the two nanofillers play a similar role of good reinforcement in Young’s modulus and tensile strength. However, the Mode-I fracture toughness of epoxy/MWCNT is much better than that of epoxy/VGCF.     

A new unidirectional carbon fiber prepreg using physically modified epoxy matrix with cellulose nano fibers and spread tows

A new unidirectional carbon fiber prepreg was successfully developed, whose epoxy matrix was physically modified with cellulose nano fibers (CNF). Two different types of prepreg were fabricated using regular carbon fiber (CF) and spread CF tows to identify the effect of prepreg thickness on the mechanical performance including fatigue of quasi isotropic laminates using these prepregs while the thickness of each layer was kept the same (120 μm). The effect of CNF modification of epoxy matrix on the fatigue life is quite significant if thin prepregs were used. It increases greater than 10 times than the fatigue lives of laminates fabricated by regular CF tows/unmodified EP or regular CF tows/modified EP. Uniformly dispersed CNF in the epoxy matrix increases the interfacial strength between CF and matrix.     

Mechanical properties of CFRP laminates manufactured from unidirectional prepregs using CSCNT-dispersed epoxy

This study presents the experimental results of the mechanical properties of three-phase CFRP laminates consisting of traditional carbon fibers and epoxy matrix modified using cup-stacked carbon nanotubes (CSCNTs) in comparison to those of CFRP laminates without CSCNTs. The prepreg system of carbon fibers impregnated with CSCNT-dispersed epoxy is developed, and successful fabrication of three-phase CFRP laminates is achieved using an autoclave. Basic mechanical properties of unidirectional laminates (stiffness, strength, fracture toughness, etc.) are summarized. Next, quasi-isotropic laminates are subjected to tension, compression, flexural, and compression after impact (CAI) tests. Improvement of stiffness and strength and no adverse effects on mechanical properties due to CSCNT dispersion are experimentally verified.     

快速固化环氧树脂及其碳纤维/环氧复合材料性能

采用双酚A型环氧树脂（DGEBA）、改性咪唑（MIM）及改性脂肪胺（MAA）研制快速固化树脂体系。分别利用DSC和流变仪测试了树脂体系的固化特性与流变行为,优选了树脂配方。采用真空辅助树脂灌注工艺（VARIM）制备了快速成型的碳纤维/环氧复合材料层板,考察了层板的成型质量和力学性能,并与常规固化的层板性能进行了对比。结果表明：采用优选的树脂配方,120 ℃下树脂在5 min内固化度达95%,碳纤维/环氧复合材料层板成型固化时间可控制在13 min以内,固化度达95%以上,并且没有明显缺陷;与常规固化相比（固化时间大于2 h）,快速固化碳纤维/环氧复合材料层板的弯曲性能和耐热性能降低幅度较小。     

PEK-C膜层间增韧碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的力学性能

为探究热塑性酚酞基聚醚酮（Polyaryletherketone with Cardo,PEK-C）树脂薄膜及膜厚对层间增韧碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料力学性能的影响,利用浸渍提拉法制备了三种不同厚度（分别约为1 μm、10 μm、30 μm）的PEK-C膜,通过热压成型制备了层间增韧碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层合板,对其进行了Ⅰ型层间断裂韧性、冲击后压缩强度、层间剪切及弯曲性能测试,并利用SEM观察微观形貌及AFM扫描微观相图。结果表明:不同PEK-C膜厚增韧碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的Ⅰ型层间断裂韧性、冲击后压缩强度及层间剪切强度有不同程度提高,Ⅰ型层间断裂韧性及层间剪切强度以膜厚为10 μm最佳,分别增大了157.17%和17.57%,冲击后压缩强度以膜厚为30 μm最佳,达到了186.67 MPa,这是由于PEK-C与环氧树脂在热压固化过程中形成了双相结构,改善了材料韧性;但弯曲性能持续下降,强度及模量由未增韧的1 551 MPa、106 GPa分别降至30 μm时的965 MPa、79 GPa,这是由于PEK-C树脂扩散进入环氧树脂中,降低了纤维体积分数及材料刚度。      

Improvements in mechanical properties of a carbon fiber epoxy composite using nanotube science and technology

Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminates, with strategically incorporated fluorine functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) at 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 weight percent (wt.%), are studied for improvements in tensile strength and stiffness and durability under both tension–tension (R = +0.1) and tension–compression (R = −0.1) cyclic loadings, and then compared to the neat (0.0 wt.% CNTs) composite laminate material. To develop the nanocomposite laminates, a spraying technology was used to deposit nanotubes on both sides of each four-harness satin weave carbon fiber fabric piece for the 12 ply laminate lay up. For these experimental studies the carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminates were fabricated using a heated vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (H-VARTM®) method followed by a 2 soak curing cycle. The f-CNTs toughened the epoxy resin-fiber interfaces to mitigate the evolution of fiber/fabric-matrix interfacial cracking and delamination under both static and cyclic loadings. As a consequence, significant improvements in the mechanical properties of tensile strength, stiffness and resistance to failure due to cyclic loadings resulted for this carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminate.     

碳纤维无纺布对CFRP层板层间的增韧作用及机制

为了揭示短纤维无纺布对碳纤维增强树脂基复合材料(CFRP)层板层间韧性的影响规律,测试了不同面密度(1.95、3.90、7.80和15.60 mg/cm2)和不同纤维平均长度(0.8 mm和4.3 mm)的碳纤维无纺布增韧的CFRP层板I型层间断裂韧性。实验结果表明:对于不同短纤维增韧的CFRP层板,平均长度为0.8mm的短纤维增韧效果优于平均长度为4.3mm的短纤维,并且面密度为7.8mg/cm2、厚度约为150μm、平均长度为0.8mm的碳纤维无纺布显著提高了CFRP层板的层间断裂韧性,与未改性的CFRP层板相比,其能量释放率最大可提高99%。光学显微镜观察结果表明环氧基体中长度为0.8mm的短纤维具有三维交织结构,该结构可以有效地阻止裂纹的扩展;SEM观察结果表明短纤维从环氧基体中的脱粘和拔出以及短纤维周围环氧基体的塑性变形是CFRP层板的主要增韧机制。研究结论为层板短纤维增韧技术的应用奠定了基础。     

Performance of stitched/unstitched woven carbon/epoxy composites under high velocity impact loading

In this paper, response of stitched/unstitched woven fabric carbon/epoxy composite laminates subjected to high velocity impact loading is discussed. Aerospace grade plain and satin weave carbon fabrics were used to manufacture the laminate using a toughened SC-15 epoxy resin system with an affordable vacuum assisted resin infusion molding process. For fabrication of stitched laminates, a 3-cord Kevlar thread was used to stitch the fabric preform in lock stitch fashion in an orthogonal grid of size 12.7 and 25.4 mm with 6 mm stitch spacing. Unstitched laminates used in the study were made of 7, 17 and 37 layers whereas the stitched laminates were made of 7 and 17 layers. Four laminates of each type were subjected to high velocity impact loading at different velocity to determine the ballistic limit. The ensuing damage was characterized through ultrasonic NDE. Results of the study indicate that the damage was well contained within the stitch grid incase of stitched laminates. However, ballistic limit was higher for the unstitched laminates. Ballistic limit increased with the increase in the thickness of the laminate. Further, satin weave laminates exhibited higher ballistic limits in most of the cases.     

Mechanical properties of cross-ply and quasi-isotropic composite laminates processed using aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy prepreg

This study examined the processing and mechanical properties of cross-ply and quasi-isotropic composite laminates processed using aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy prepreg sheets. Three kinds of CNT/epoxy laminates, ([0°/90°]s, [60°/0°/?60°]s, [0°/45°/90°/?45°]s) were successfully fabricated using aligned CNT/epoxy prepreg sheets. The CNT volume fraction was approximately 10%. No visible void or delamination was observed in composite laminates, and the thickness of each layer was almost equal to that of the prepreg. To evaluate the elastic moduli, E₁₁, E₂₂, and G₁₂, of each ply in the laminates, on-axis and off-axis tensile tests (0°, 45°, 90°) were conducted of aligned CNT/epoxy lamina specimens. The Young’s modulus of CNT/epoxy cross-ply and quasi-isotropic laminates agreed with the theoretical values, which were calculated using classical laminate theory and elastic moduli of CNT/epoxy lamina. The respective failure strains of [0°/90°]s, [60°/0°/?60°]s, and [0°/45°/90°/?45°]s laminates are 0.65, 0.92, 0.63%, which are higher than that of 0° composite lamina (0.5%). Results suggest that the failure strain of 0° layer in composite laminates is improved because of the other layers.     

Experimental and Numerical Simulation Analysis of Typical Carbon Woven Fabric/Epoxy Laminates Subjected to Lightning Strike

To clarify the evolution of damage for typical carbon woven fabric/epoxy laminates exposed to lightning strike, artificial lightning testing on carbon woven fabric/epoxy laminates were conducted, damage was assessed using visual inspection and damage peeling approaches. Relationships between damage size and action integral were also elucidated. Results showed that damage appearance of carbon woven fabric/epoxy laminate presents circular distribution, and center of the circle located at the lightning attachment point approximately, there exist no damage projected area dislocations for different layers, visual damage territory represents maximum damage scope; visible damage can be categorized into five modes: resin ablation, fiber fracture and sublimation, delamination, ablation scallops and block-shaped ply-lift; delamination damage due to resin pyrolysis and internal pressure exist obvious distinguish; project area of total damage is linear with action integral for the same type specimens, that of resin ablation damage is linear with action integral, but no correlation with specimen type, for all specimens, damage depth is linear with logarithm of action integral. The coupled thermal–electrical model constructed is capable to simulate the ablation damage for carbon woven fabric/epoxy laminates exposed to simulated lightning current through experimental verification.