Abstract
The creation of a hierarchical interface between the carbon fiber (CF) and the epoxy resin matrix of fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites has become an effective strategy for introducing multifunctional properties. Although the efficacy of many hierarchical interfaces has been established in lab-scale, their production is not amenable to high-volume, continuous, cost effective fiber production, which is required for the large-scale commercialization of composites. This work investigates the use of commercially available CO2 laser as a means of nano-structuring the surface of carbon fiber (CF) tows in an incessant throughput procedure. Even though the single carbon fiber tensile strength measurements showed a decrease up to 68% for the exposed CFs, the electrical conductivity exhibited an increment up to 18.4%. Furthermore, results on laminates comprised of irradiated unidirectional CF cloth, demonstrated an enhancement in out of plane electrical conductivity up to 43%, while preserved the Mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness of the composite, showing the potential for multifunctionality. This work indicates that the laser-induced graphitization of the CF surface can act as an interface for fast and cost-effective manufacturing of multifunctional CFRP composite materials.
Highlights
Composite materials, in particular carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), consisting of epoxy resin and carbon fibers (CFs) as reinforcement, are dominating the production of lightweight components for the aeronautics [1], marine [2], automotive [3], and wind energy [4] markets
Electrical conductivity tests on both CF. Samples and their CFRP were performed in order to identify any changes in conductive paths that could potentially be introduced by the laser texturing
The dimensions of the CF yarns were selected at length = 6 cm and width = 0.6 cm
Summary
In particular carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), consisting of epoxy resin and carbon fibers (CFs) as reinforcement, are dominating the production of lightweight components for the aeronautics [1], marine [2], automotive [3], and wind energy [4] markets. Reducing the heat-affected zone (HAZ) in CFs induced by the thermal nature of the laser/material interactions remains an obstacle Along these lines, ultrafast lasers operating in the picosecond or femtosecond (fs) pulse duration regimes are the most efficient for CFRP surface texturing and improving adhesive bonding between CFRP parts in terms of Mode I and II fracture energy [32,33,34], since the HAZ and mechanical degradation on the CFs are minimal. The direct writing of fs-laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) on CFs is a single step process using linearly polarized irradiation and has gained increased attention. Electrical conductivity tests on both CF samples and their CFRP were performed in order to identify any changes in conductive paths that could potentially be introduced by the laser texturing
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