Abstract
This work aims to explore the effect of organo-modified montmorillonite nanoclay (O-MMT) on the mechanical, thermo-mechanical, and thermal properties of carbon fiber-reinforced phenolic composites (CFRP). CFRP at variable O-MMT contents (from 0 to 2.5 wt%) were prepared. The addition of 1.5 wt% O-MMT was found to give the heat resistant polymer composite optimum properties. Compared to the CFRP, the CFRP with 1.5 wt% O-MMT provided a higher tensile strength of 64 MPa (+20%), higher impact strength of 49 kJ/m2 (+51%), but a little lower bending strength of 162 MPa (−1%). The composite showed a 64% higher storage modulus at 30 °C of 6.4 GPa. It also could reserve its high modulus up to 145 °C. Moreover, it had a higher heat deflection temperature of 152 °C (+1%) and a higher thermal degradation temperature of 630 °C. This composite could maintain its mechanical properties at high temperature and was a good candidate for heat resistant material.
Highlights
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) have been widely used in a vast range of fields, including aerospace, defense, and automotive industries, because of their high specific strength, modulus, stiffness, good chemical resistance, and low density [1,2].Carbon fibers are increasingly used in numerous applications due to their outstanding features, e.g., high tensile strength, high modulus, high thermal stability, excellent corrosion resistance, and light weight, as well as lower consumption cost [3,4]
We studied the synergistic effects of multi-fillers on the mechanical properties of short carbon fiber-reinforced phenolic composites and demonstrated that the incorporation of nanosilica, carbon black, and poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) rubber greatly increased mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties when compared to the neat phenolic resin [25]
The density of O-MMT was lower than that of the neat phenolic resin, it was found that with the increase of O-MMT content in the CFRP, the experimental density slightly increased. This can be ascribed to the nanoclay particles that filled up the air gap or void between the reinforcing carbon fiber and phenolic matrix [26]
Summary
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) have been widely used in a vast range of fields, including aerospace, defense, and automotive industries, because of their high specific strength, modulus, stiffness, good chemical resistance, and low density [1,2]. Carbon fibers are increasingly used in numerous applications due to their outstanding features, e.g., high tensile strength, high modulus, high thermal stability, excellent corrosion resistance, and light weight, as well as lower consumption cost [3,4]. Carbon fibers have an inevitable drawback resulting from their weak interfacial adhesion with most polymer matrices due to their smooth graphitic surfaces, chemical inertness, low surface energy, and stable non-polar structures, affecting the properties of polymer composites [5]. The absence of strong interfacial adhesion can constrain the performance of polymer composites and hinders the real potential of carbon fibers [6]. The improvements of the carbon fiber–polymer matrix interface are divided into two main approaches: matrix modification and fiber treatment [7,8,9,10]
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