Abstract
The two-dimensional macro molecule graphene and its derivatives have widely been investigated for their application as nanofiller in carbon fibre-reinforced composites (CFRC). Research has progressed from techniques that simply mix graphene as a mixing constituent within the composite material to more complex examples where graphene is covalently bonded to fibre, matrix or both via multiple reaction steps. This field of research is multi-disciplinary whereby branches of materials, engineering, polymer science, physics and chemistry often overlap. From the materials engineering perspective, the desire is to discover the novel materials targeting industrial applications and obtain a full understanding of the graphene oxide chemistry and interaction of graphene oxide with a polymer matrix. To date, most of the research is targeted at (i) improving the fibre / matrix interface properties and / or (ii) improving the dispersion of nanofiller within the matrix; both of these factors ultimately improve composite performance. Organising that information critically can lead to emergence of a generalization of material design. Therefore, the objective of this work is to critically review current state of art in the field of graphene oxide / epoxy CFRCs and propose the design rules based on current scientific trend and common themes for future works.
Highlights
The British physicist, chemist and inventor Sir Joseph Wilson Swan was responsible for giving birth to the carbon fiber industry in the 1860s when he utilized a form of carbonized paper as a filament in the early development of incandescent light bulbs (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018)
The review starts by discussing differences between the graphene derivatives, synthesis techniques and identifying popular methods utilized in carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRC)
We have explored the graphene derivatives, synthesis techniques and identifying popular methods utilized in CFRC
Summary
The British physicist, chemist and inventor Sir Joseph Wilson Swan was responsible for giving birth to the carbon fiber industry in the 1860s when he utilized a form of carbonized paper as a filament in the early development of incandescent light bulbs (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018). The most common thermoset resins in use today are epoxy based due to their mechanical, thermal and corrosion resistant properties (Miracle and Donaldson, 2001; Vautard et al, 2013). This composite appealed the Rolls Royce RB211 turbofan jet-engine that was put in to service in 1971 complete with a single carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRC) fan stage (Lazonick and Prencipe, 2005). Epoxy resins are extensively used in the production of lightweight carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CRFP) to deliver desired engineering properties such as high modulus and strength, low creep, superb chemical and thermal stability (Njuguna et al, 2007; Quan et al, 2018). To the best knowledge of the authors this is the first review which focuses on graphene utilization in CFRC and design rules
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