Improving flexural and dielectric properties of carbon fiber epoxy composite laminates reinforced with carbon nanotubes interlayer using electrospray deposition

Muhammad Razlan Zakaria,Mohd Firdaus Omar,Hazizan Md Akil,Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah,Muhammad Bisyrul Hafi Othman,Aslina Anjang Ab Rahman

doi:10.1515/ntrev-2020-0090

Muhammad Razlan Zakaria, Mohd Firdaus Omar + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2020-0090

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Abstract

Abstract The electrospray deposition method was used to deposit carbon nanotubes (CNT) onto the surfaces of woven carbon fiber (CF) to produce woven hybrid carbon fiber–carbon nanotubes (CF–CNT). Extreme high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (XHR-FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to analyze the woven hybrid CF–CNT. The results demonstrated that CNT was successfully and homogenously distributed on the woven CF surface. Woven hybrid CF–CNT epoxy composite laminates were then prepared and compared with woven CF epoxy composite laminates in terms of their flexural and dielectric properties. The results indicated that the flexural strength, flexural modulus and dielectric constant of the woven hybrid CF–CNT epoxy composite laminates were improved up to 19, 27 and 25%, respectively, compared with the woven CF epoxy composite laminates.

Highlights

Carbon fiber (CF) epoxy composite laminates exhibit high strength and modulus to weight ratio and are broadly used in the aerospace, automobile industries, military, electronic and sporting goods [1]
The electrospray deposition (ESD) method deposits the carbon nanotubes (CNT) without forming any agglomeration on the CF surface
Woven hybrid CF–CNTCF–CNT was prepared by using ESD with an applied voltage of 15 kV and spray duration of 15 min

Summary

Introduction

Carbon fiber (CF) epoxy composite laminates exhibit high strength and modulus to weight ratio and are broadly used in the aerospace, automobile industries, military, electronic and sporting goods [1]. The incorporation of nanofiller, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), into the CF epoxy composite laminates has been developed as an efficient method for improving the fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion, including mechanical interlocks, chemical bonding and enhancing the performance especially in the direction of through thickness [5]. The direct incorporation of the CNT into the epoxy matrix is less effective in improving the interfacial bonding between the CF and epoxy matrix [13] Another way is to grow or deposit CNT directly onto CF surface to form a hierarchical reinforcement. Epoxy resin is used as a binder to strengthen the adhesion between the CF and CNT This method is used in high-electric fields to convert suspension or liquid into non-agglomerating nano or microdroplets of uniform sizes and suitable to produce micrometer-thin or thinner layers of spray with uniform coating. The flexural and dielectric properties of the woven hybrid CF–CNT epoxy composite laminates were studied

Materials

Preparation of woven hybrid CF–CNT

Characterization of woven hybrid CF–CNT

Characterization of woven hybrid CF–CNT epoxy composite laminates

Results and discussion

Conclusion