Abstract
Carbon nanotube (CNT) coatings were utilized to enhance the interfacial properties of carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy(EP) composites by ultrasonically assisted electrophoretic deposition (EPD). A characterization of the CF surface properties was done before and after coating (surface chemistry, surface morphologies, and surface energy). The result shows that oxygenated groups concentrations of the CF surfaces experienced significant increases from 12.11% to 24.78%. Moreover, the uniform and homogeneous CNT films were tightly attached on the surface of CF, and the surface wettability of CF is significant improved by enhanced surface free energy when introduced ultrasonic during the EPD process. In addition, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and water absorption of CF/EP composite were measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the fracture mechanisms of the new interface layer formed by depositing CNTs on the CF surface contributed to the enhancement of the mechanical performance of the epoxy. This means that the efficient method to improve interfacial performance of composites has shown great commercial application potential.
Highlights
Carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composites materials are widely used in automobile, aviation and aerospace fields due to their tailorability, high strength, and light weight [1,2]
A lot of studies have been devoted to introducing Carbon nanotube (CNT) on the surface of carbon fiber (CF) to improve the interfacial properties of composites, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) [11] and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) [12,13]
CNTs on the surface improved the interfacial adhesion. These results suggest that depositing CNTs on the CF surface improved the interfacial adhesion of of thethe roughness,which whichprovided providedintimate intimate molecular contact
Summary
Carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composites materials are widely used in automobile, aviation and aerospace fields due to their tailorability, high strength, and light weight [1,2]. A lot of studies have been devoted to introducing CNTs on the surface of CF to improve the interfacial properties of composites, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) [11] and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) [12,13]. Both methods could successfully introduce CNTs on the surface of CF with strong adhesion. Special emphasis has been put on the influence of CNT coatings on carbon fiber by ultrasonically assisted electrophoretic deposition on its composite interfacial property. Fracture mechanisms of the composite were examined by scanning electron microscopy
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