Growth of aligned ZnO nanorods on woven Kevlar® fiber and its performance in woven Kevlar® fiber/polyester composites

Abstract

ZnO nanorods were grown by a seeding treatment on surface-functionalized woven Kevlar® fiber (WKF), and the decorated WKF was used to prepare composites with polyester resin (PES) via vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the surface functionalization of the WKF. The characteristic peaks of ZnO observed by FT-IR and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated the growth of ZnO nanorods on the surface of the WKF. FT-IR analyses of the composites were consistent with an interaction between the WKF, and ZnO and PES. The intensity of the XRD peak for crystalline ZnO increased with increasing growth of the nanorods. The morphology of the nanorods was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The growth of the nanorods increased with increasing treatment time. Thermogravimetric analysis also supported the growth of nanorods. The presence of ZnO nanorods significantly improved the impact resistance of the WKF/PES composites; the penetration thresholds were also determined. The WKF/ZnO/PES composites had substantially higher tensile strengths and moduli than the ZnO-free composites.