Abstract
In order to increase the material throughput of aligned discontinuous fibre composites using technologies such as HiPerDiF, stability of the carbon fibres in an aqueous solution needs to be achieved. Subsequently, a range of surfactants, typically employed to disperse carbon-based materials, have been assessed to determine the most appropriate for use in this regard. The optimum stability of the discontinuous fibres was observed when using the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate, which was superior to a range of other non-ionic and anionic surfactants, and single-fibre fragmentation demonstrated that the employment of sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate did not affect the interfacial adhesion between fibres. Rheometry was used to complement the study, to understand the potential mechanisms of the improved stability of discontinuous fibres in aqueous suspension, and it led to the understanding that the increased viscosity was a significant factor. For the shear rates employed, fibre deformation was neither expected nor observed.
Highlights
For many years the preserve of aerospace, the use of advanced composite materials for engineering applications is becoming more widespread in an increasing variety of technological applications, including automotive, wind energy, marine, and civil engineering
Thermoset composites, e.g., epoxy-based, are more widely used, in aerospace applications, but offer less opportunity for conventional recycling routes, since the crosslinked matrix is insoluble and infusible, and so requires extreme heat to char and remove it from the fibres. This in turn leads to complications with the carbon fibres (CFs), since during this recycling process the fibres are exposed to a degree of thermal degradation
The addition of the surfactant does not have an effect on the interfacial adhesion, as demonstrated by the single fibre fragmentation data
Summary
For many years the preserve of aerospace, the use of advanced composite materials for engineering applications is becoming more widespread in an increasing variety of technological applications, including automotive, wind energy, marine, and civil engineering. Thermoset composites, e.g., epoxy-based, are more widely used, in aerospace applications, but offer less opportunity for conventional recycling routes, since the crosslinked matrix is insoluble and infusible, and so requires extreme heat to char and remove it from the fibres. This in turn leads to complications with the carbon fibres (CFs), since during this recycling process the fibres are exposed to a degree of thermal degradation.
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