Electro-mechanical properties of friction spun conductive hybrid yarns made of carbon filaments for composites

Abstract

Textile-reinforced composites are a leading trend in lightweight structure design. The demand for additional function integration in lightweight structures made from textile-reinforced composites is growing rapidly. This article reports on the production of functional yarns made with friction spinning using carbon filament yarn as the core component and polypropylene fibres as the sheath component. The suitability of these yarns was tested with regards to mechanical properties for use in textile-reinforced thermoplastic composites. Their ability to perform additional functions such as structural health monitoring and signal transfer was also tested. Differences in the electro-mechanical and mechanical properties of hybrid yarns made from different types of carbon filament yarn core and polypropylene sheath were investigated with respect to different spinning parameters used to produce the yarns. Optimum processing parameters have been suggested that improve the functional properties of these yarns.