Electrostatic Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Hierarchical Structure of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes With Glass Fiber Cloth Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

A hierarchical structure of glass fiber cloth (GFC) deposited with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and cationic polyelectrolyte poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) was fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly method. We demonstrated that negatively charged MWCNTs, by acid functionnalization, and positively charged PDDA were sequentially adsorbed onto the GFC to form a uniform and porous interconnected network structure of MWCNTs. Multiscale composites with GFC-[PDDA-MWCNTs] n were prepared by compression molding. The presence of the MWCNTs with their porous nanostructure helped in the formation of an interpenetrating network with the matrix at the interface layer. The resulting interlaminar strength increased by 18∼37% and the surface electrical resistance (∼105 Ω) dropped greatly compared to those of epoxy/GFC composites (1014 Ω), showing them to be promising structural composites with GFC-[PDDA-MWCNTs] n reinforcement with an improvement in properties over epoxy/GFC composites.