Aligned Carbon Nanotube Reinforcement of Advanced Composite Ply Interfaces

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*† ‡ § ** , This work presents the fabrication and characterization of three hybrid multiscale advanced composite materials. Long (>20 micron), aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are placed at the interface of existing advanced composite plies and used as a reinforcement and to enhance electrical properties of the laminate. Three fabrication routes utilizing aligned CNTs at ply interfaces are presented: transplantation of CNT forests between prepreg carbon/epoxy plies, transfer of aligned CNTs and layup between woven carbon fiber plies that are subsequently infused to form a laminate, and in situ growth of aligned CNTs on the interior (and surface) of alumina fiber woven cloth prior to hand layup. Aerospace-grade thermoset epoxies, without modification, are noted to wet and penetrate the unfunctionalized aligned CNT forests, which is consistent with initial studies on solely CNT-polymer interactions. In all the fabrication routes, aligned CNTs are observed at the interface after laminate fabrication. Both mechanical (interlaminar) and multifunctional (electrical) property modifications are noted for the laminates containing CNTs. Significant interlaminar property enhancement has been observed and the mechanisms of this reinforcement are investigated via optical and scanning electron microscopy. Further improvements in the fabrication routes are discussed, and further testing of additional laminate-level property enhancements are suggested. Nomenclature