Abstract
Functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been embedded in a rubber-toughened epoxy formulation in order to explore the possibility to impart an auto-repair function to the epoxy matrix. The nanofiller has been covalently functionalized with hydrogen bonding moieties able to act as donor and acceptor of hydrogen bondings. Healing efficiencies have been evaluated for nano charged epoxy formulations at a loading of 0.5% wt/wt of functionalized MWCNTs bearing barbituric acid and thymine-based ligands. For both the performed functionalizations, a self-healing efficiency higher than 50% has been found. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) highlights that the inclusion of nanofiller increases the storage moduli. Furthermore, DMA analysis evidences the presence of a phase characterized by a greater mobility of the epoxy chains, which promotes the activation of self-healing mechanisms.
Highlights
Global competition and the need to maintain global leadership in the field of structural materials dictate the need for cost-efficient, environmental friendly aviation products and services, while at the same time maintaining top quality
Unfunctionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) show a greater improvement compared to the functionalized MWCNTs
The matrix - MWCNTs cluster interactions could be of two different types: (i) polar cluster - nonpolar polymer backbone, which is similar to the interaction involving epoxy matrix and reinforcing fillers, (ii) polar-polar groups of the matrix, which should result in an increase in the glass transition temperature
Summary
Global competition and the need to maintain global leadership in the field of structural materials (air transport field, aircraft, ships, wind turbine blades, satellite control boards, electronic devices, etc.) dictate the need for cost-efficient, environmental friendly aviation products and services, while at the same time maintaining top quality. The demonstrated benefits of composite materials, compared to metallic one, have led to the recent trend of increased use of the former with respect to metal alloys, most of all in the field of primary aeronautical structures. Structural systems for aeronautical materials experience a broad spectrum of environmental and operational loads and atmospheric hazards (hail, lightning, storms etc.). Severe and/or prolonged load exposures may trigger the damage accumulation process even in recently deployed structures. An important contribution to the increased exploitation of composite materials can be given by an implementation of a strategy of damage autorepairing, and other specific functions integrated into the material structure, to contrast the reduced electrical conductivity, flame resistance, thermal conductivity etc
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