Abstract
In this study, the graphene nanoplatelets (GNP)/carbon fabric (CF)/epoxy (EP) hybrid laminated composites were fabricated via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) followed by hand lay-up assisted vacuum bagging technique. GNP were dispersed in two different colloidal suspensions, i.e., distilled water (DW) and N-dimethyformamide (DMF), and the effect of EPD GNP onto CF surface were investigated. The finding indicated that the electrophoretic mobility (EM) of GNP is slightly slower in DMF due to the higher viscosity of DMF (0.92 mPa.s) compared to DW (0.89 mPa.s). Zeta (ξ) potential of GNP were slightly higher in DMF, revealing the non-polar behaviour of GNP being easily dispersed in DMF due to its low polar and hydrogen-bonding strength. However, the higher current intensity was observed for the GNP-DW suspension, implying higher dielectric constant of DW adequate for effective deposition of GNP onto CF surface as confirmed via field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The GNP-DMF/ CF/EP composites exhibit the highest flexural properties compared to GNP-DW/CF/EP composites. These findings proved the colloidal dispersibility of GNP in DW and DMF suspensions, respectively used in EPD govern the flexural properties of GNP/CF/EP hybrid laminated composites.
Highlights
Advanced structural fibre such as carbon fibres (CF) with their exceptional mechanical properties have been extensively used as reinforcements in high performance structural composite applications
The findings demonstrated the electrophoretic mobility (EM) of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-DMF was slightly slower compared to GNP-distilled water (DW) probably due to the higher viscosity of DMF (0.92 mPa.s) compared to DW (0.89 mPa.s)
This study confirms that the dispersibility and stability of GNP in the liquid medium were influenced by those related to the suspension such as GNP size, EM, ξ potential, dielectric constant, viscosity and colloidal stability
Summary
Advanced structural fibre such as carbon fibres (CF) with their exceptional mechanical properties have been extensively used as reinforcements in high performance structural composite applications. Several methods have been used to create hybrid fibre-GNP structures such as electrophoretic deposition (EPD), chemical vapour deposition (CVD), dipping and spraying.[3,4] The EPD, dipping and spraying methods involve the liquid phase medium and are based on physical interactions between filler and the fibre surface. Among these methods, EPD has shown to be effective for deposition of GNP onto CF surface due to low cost, process simplicity, uniformity of deposits and lower applied voltage requirements.[5]
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