Carbon Fiber Cloth Research Articles

Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (Mwcnts) Onto Carbon Fiber (CF) Fabric

The Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite (FRPC) has been widely employed in structural applications. However, adding nanoparticles such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be used to improve the composites' mechanical properties substantially. The purpose of this study is to investigate the stability of MWCNTs in distilled water (DW) and dimethylformamide (DMF). Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was chosen as the method for depositing MWCNTs onto carbon fiber (CF) fabric because of the advantages of simple equipment and inexpensive cost. Thus, the effect of voltage and deposition time were examined to attain the ideal condition for the EPD of MWCNTs onto CF fabric. The stability of dispersed MWCNTs in various dispersing mediums was explored as the importance of the MWCNTs to remain stable in the medium is essential to achieve homogeneous deposition. The UV-Vis and colloidal stability test revealed that MWCNTs dispersed in DMF have greater stability than DW. Scanning Electrode Microscopy (SEM) images exhibited that 10 minutes and a 20 V voltage were the optimal conditions for the deposition of MWCNTs onto CF fabric.

Growth of phosphomolybdate-carbon hybrid nanorod array on carbon-fiber cloth with enhanced light-trapping and decreased water-evaporation enthalpy for constructing efficient salt-free hanging evaporator

Although numerous photothermal materials have been designed for solar-enabled water evaporation, their use in practical applications remains challenging due to their unsatisfactory photoabsorption, high vaporization enthalpy and serious salt crystallization phenomenon. To overcome these issues, herein we have reported the growth of phosphomolybdate-carbon (PMo12-C) hybrid nanorod arrays on carbon-fiber cloth (CFc) for constructing the efficient salt-free hanging evaporator. The optimized CFc/PMo12-C with nanorods (diameter: ∼0.5 μm, length: ∼1.8 μm) exhibits increased photo-absorption (93.1 %) in the range of 280–2500 nm due to nanorod-induced light-trapping effects, and they also have the decreased water-evaporation enthalpy (2066.7 kJ/kg, 36.8 °C) owing to the disorganization of the hydrogen bonds at nanorods/water interface. Subsequently, such CFc/PMo12-C is hanging between one high seawater-tank and one low empty-tank to construct the incline-hanging model evaporator, where seawater (3.5 wt% NaCl) can infiltrate and then flow from high to low along CFc/PMo12-C. Upon irradiation with sunlight (1.0 kW m−2), the evaporator exhibits a high evaporation rate (2.12 kg m−2 h−1). Even for high salt concentration (21.0 wt% NaCl solution), the hanging CFc/PMo12-C evaporator can retain an almost unchanged evaporation rate (∼2.1 kg m−2 h−1) and present excellent salt-resistant performance with 8 h irradiation. Therefore, this work not only offers a new approach for preparing PMo12-C hybrid nanorod array on CFc but also realizes the efficient continuous seawater evaporation without solid-salt accumulation.

3D porous flower-like MoS2 grows on carbon cloth and used as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

In this paper, after hydrothermal reaction, 3D porous flower-like 2H-MoS2 microspheres with size distribution of 400–500 nm were uniformly loaded on carbon cloth (CC) fibers to obtain CC/MoS2 composite. As an anode material for LIBs, the obtained CC/MoS2 composite delivers an initial discharge/charge specific capacities of 1872/1680 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, with the corresponding Coulomb efficiency is as high as 89.7%. Moreover, combine the advantages of CC and MoS2, excellent cycle stability with 1060 mAh g−1 (0.5 A g−1 for 200 cycles) has been obtained.

Impact Testing and Modelling of Composite Laminate Panels for Use in Off-Road Racing Vehicle Belly Guards

Off-road racing vehicles require protection on the underside of their chassis in order to protect vital components from impact damage. The use of composites in thin laminate form to achieve this protection is widespread, although failure due to impact from foreign objects still occurs. The use of UHMWPE (Ultra High-Molecular Weight Polyethylene) fibres, which have superior mechanical properties to aramid fibres in vehicle belly guards, is not prevalent and, hence, could prove useful in this application. A comprehensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is performed in order to determine suitable laminate panel layups that can be tested, analysed, and compared to the original laminate layup, which comprises six layers of aramid and two layers of carbon fibre fabrics. This provides initial insight into the comparison of the new proposed laminates and reveals if improvements have been made. The laminates found using FEA are manufactured into panels that represent the fixture and loading cases seen in racing vehicles. Experimental testing is carried out on the various panels, and the results are compared to those of the mathematical modelling. Substituting the currently used carbon fibres with more aramid fibres increases the impact resistance of the panel. Using UHMWPE fibres greatly increases the impact resistance of the panel; however, fibre delamination becomes more prevalent. This is due to the poor fibre wettability of UHMWPE fibres and the large strain before failure of the fibres. The modelled results show good agreement with the experimental results in terms of the locations at which damage occurred.

Carbon Fiber Cloth Performance Improvement via Hybrid Materials (Fe2O3, FeCo2O4, and Conducting Polymer) Addition for Energy Storage Applications

Carbon Fiber Cloth Performance Improvement via Hybrid Materials (Fe2O3, FeCo2O4, and Conducting Polymer) Addition for Energy Storage Applications

CeVO4/C-decorated carbon fiber cloth as carbon fiber-supported membrane catalyst to activate peroxymonosulfate for tetracycline removal

The powder shape of a catalyst limits its practical applications in advanced oxidation processes. Herein, we used carbon fiber cloth (CFC) as a flexible matrix and introduced a carbon layer on its surface (c-CFC). CeVO4 nanoparticles were synthesized on the c-CFC surface using a chemical deposition method, successfully fabricating a CeVO4/c-CFC carbon fiber-supported membrane catalyst for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. The results indicate that CeVO4/c-CFC (2 × 2 cm2) has excellent reusability and can efficiently remove 97% of tetracycline (TC) within 15 min. The interaction between CeVO4 and CFC provides abundant active sites, and promotes electron transfer. Furthermore, the carbon layer modification enhances the interfacial contact and electrochemical performance. In addition, hydroxyl radicals, sulfate radicals, and singlet oxygen species are also involved in TC degradation. Finally, the unique membrane shape endows the catalyst with easy recyclability and low environmental toxicity in practical applications.

Preparation of a flexible photoanode of the photoelectrochemical ultraviolet photodetector based on rutile TiO2 nanowires and the suppressed charge recombination at solid/liquid interface

Flexible ultraviolet (UV) photodetector exhibits a promising application in portable electronic gadgets, display devices and biomedical imaging. In this study, a flexible photoanode of the photoelectrochemical (PEC)-type UV photodetector based on rutile TiO2 nanowires (TiO2 NWs) grown on carbon fiber cloth is realized. In photovoltaic applications, an insulating layer is usually introduced to suppress interfacial recombination and reduce the surface trap states. The interfacial recombination of semiconductor/electrolyte is suppressed by coating an Al2O3 barrier layer on the TiO2 NWs. The photodetectors of the TiO2@Al2O3 NWs show stable photocurrent, a high light/dark current ratio (I light/I dark) of 1170, a faster rise and decay response times of 0.09 and 0.09 s, and excellent spectral selectivity from 300 to 400 nm. The peak responsivity of the photodetectors reaches 2.8 mA W−1 at 360 nm. This flexible photoanode have a potential application in wearable PEC UV photodetector.

Flexible self-powered solar-blind UV photodetectors based on amorphous Ga2O3 modified carbon fiber cloth

Self-powered solar-blind ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors are gaining increasing recognition as green, efficient, and sustainable devices, representing a development trend in the evolution of next-generation optoelectronics. Much efforts have been devoted to carbon-based materials for their excellent conductivity. Among these materials, commercial carbon fiber sheets stand out due to their distinctive 3D structure, impressive conductivity, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility, rendering them highly suitable for a wide range of photosensitive applications. The realm of flexible optoelectronic devices has garnered substantial interest owing to its pivotal role in diverse domains. However, the utilization of carbon cloth (CC) as a substrate for photodetectors remains an area ripe for exploration. This study aims to fabricate self-powered solar-blind UV photodetectors based on amorphous Ga2O3 (a-Ga2O3) thin films modified CC using a concise and efficient physical vapor deposition technique (magnetron sputtering). The results show that the optimal responsivity of the a-Ga2O3/CC photodetector is 16.98 mA/W, with response times of 0.16/0.10 s (rise/decay time). Even after 300 cycles of bending treatment, this self-powered photodetector maintains excellent cyclic stability and repeatability. Furthermore, first-principles calculation reveals a significant built-in electric field around the interface between a-Ga2O3 and CC, which can effectively separate photogenerated electrons and holes and suppress carriers’ recombination. This inherent mechanism allows the a-Ga2O3/CC-based photodetector to exhibit remarkable self-powered characteristics and prominent solar-blind detection ability.

NH4F-assisted and morphology-controlled fabrication of iron cobaltite FeCo2O4 nanoparticles on carbon fiber cloth for supercapacitor applications

NH4F-assisted and morphology-controlled fabrication of iron cobaltite FeCo2O4 nanoparticles on carbon fiber cloth for supercapacitor applications

Self-tuned interfacial charges induced by protonated transition metal heterostructure for efficiently acidic hydrogen evolution reaction

The interfacial engineering provides an effective strategy to develop the noble-free catalysts. However, the long protons migration path and undesirable electrons transportation resistance at the heterointerfaces has hampered advances in highly efficient acidic hydrogen production. Herein, the self-tuned interfacial charges in NiP/HxWO3 binary catalyst are developed for the efficiently acidic water electrocatalysis. Specifically, the interfacial electrons could be automatically tuned and accelerated by a self-modulated work function via the in-situ protonation process of WO3 from the semi-conductor to metallic tungsten bronze (HxWO3) in acidic medium. Moreover, the charge redistribution in NiP/HxWO3 balances the electronic state between surficial Ni sites and P sites, bidirectionally optimizing the hydrogen binding energy over surficial NiP for the favorable H* adsorption and H2 release. A further promotion is achieved by constructing NiP/HxWO3 on carbon fiber fabric to form a hierarchically and seamlessly conductive nanostructure. Impressively, the interfacial charge coordinated NiP/HxWO3 catalyst exhibits outstanding HER activity with an overpotential of 280 mV at the high current density of 500 mA·cm−2 and an excellent long-term stability beyond 110 h in acidic medium, surpassing the most reported catalysts. This work demonstrates an protonation assisted interfacial charge regulation strategy for the development of the efficient multicomponent catalyst.

Vertically aligned MnO2 nanosheets on carbon fiber cloth as lithiophilic host enables dendrite-free lithium metal anode

Vertically aligned MnO2 nanosheets on carbon fiber cloth as lithiophilic host enables dendrite-free lithium metal anode

Polymerically-enhanced nonwoven recycled carbon fibres used as capacitor electrodes

Here we demonstrate the use of reclaimed non-woven carbon fibre fabrics as electrodes in capacitors. An established polymer surface grafting process (poly(ortho-phenylenediamine, PoPD) was adapted from virgin carbon fibre, giving a 157% improvement (vs. control) in specific capacitance of these fibres at 100 mA/g. Device fabrication using the modified materials gave excellent cycling stability of 96% (over 5000 cycles) was observed for the laminates incorporating PoPD modified fabrics. The flexural properties of the control specimens found a flexural strength and modulus of 8.28 ± 0.55 MPa and 1.02 ± 0.13 GPa, respectively. Improvements to 14.6 ± 1.06 MPa (+76.5%) and 1.60 ± 0.2 GPa (+56.2%) with the presence of PoPD on the reclaimed fibre surface were observed, highlighting the potential synergy of the surface modification for the improvement of physical and electrochemical properties.

Doping Effects of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene on the Flexural Properties and Tribological Performance of Needle-Punched Carbon/Carbon Composites Prepared by Liquid-Phase Impregnation.

The main goal of this study is to investigate the doping effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene on the needle-punched carbon/carbon (C/C) composites that are prepared by liquid-phase impregnation. In order to achieve, for the C/C composites, the purposes of high flexural strength, stable friction coefficient, low weight loss, and high thermal conductivity, our primary concern is to examine the flexural properties and the tribological performance, and then to explore a little further into the influence on thermal conductivity. In this study, carbon fiber preforms were first fabricated by needle-punched carbon-fiber cloth, and then liquid-phase phenolic resin, doped with different proportions of carbon nanotubes and graphene, was used as the impregnation solution to carry out multiple densification (impregnation-carbonization) cycles and fabricate various C/C composites. The main purpose was to probe into the doping effects of the CNTs and graphene, added to the impregnation solution, on the properties of C/C composites. The experimental results show that the addition of CNTs and graphene can improve the heat conductivity, flexural properties, and tribological performance of C/C composites, and the impact on these properties is more significant with the addition. Furthermore, the properties of graphene-doped C/C specimens are better than those of CNT-doped C/C specimens.

Modeling and analysis of the equivalent convex mandrel of the three-dimensional braiding carbon fiber composite robotic arm

The third robotic arm (drive housing) of a six-axis industrial robot often has a vertical inwardly concave surface to facilitate the installation of spatially vertical drive motors. With the inwardly concave surface of the robotic arm it is difficult to realize three-dimensional (3D) braiding directly, and based on this problem, an equivalent convex mandrel is added to the concave mandrel. The mathematical model of the concave mandrel is established, and the mathematical expression of the concave mandrel is obtained. In any cross-section perpendicular to the x-axis, the equivalent outwardly convex cross-sectional line is obtained according to the condition that the length of the outwardly convex and concave mandrel cross-sectional line is equal. All outwardly convex cross-sectional lines form a smooth surface of the equivalent convex mandrel. By the numerical calculation method, the braiding trajectory and the downward pressure trajectory are predicted for various take-up speeds. The length error of the braiding trajectory and the downward pressure trajectory are within 5%, which verifies the accuracy of the convex mandrel. The variation pattern of the braiding angle is smooth, verifying the braidability of the convex mandrel. The experimental results show that the outwardly convex carbon fiber fabric can be pressed down to fit the surface of the concave mandrel. Therefore, a carbon fiber composite arm with an inwardly concave surface can be manufactured by 3D braiding with the addition of an equivalent convex mandrel.

Mechanical properties and oxidative ablation behaviors of polysilazane‐modified phenolic resin aerogel/carbon fiber fabric composites

AbstractNanoporous composites have been extensively applied in aerospace applications for their outstanding thermal insulation and ablation resistance. A ceramizable polysilazane (PSZ)‐modified phenolic resin (PSZ‐PR)/carbon fiber fabric (PSZ‐PR/CF) aerogel composite was synthesized through ambient pressure drying (APD). The homogeneous nanopore structure and improved thermal stability of the PSZ‐PR aerogel matrix provided the composites with good performance (thermal conductivity as low as 0.126 W/(m·K)). The PSZ‐PR/CF composites achieved high compressive strength (up to 43.75 MPa), tensile strength (59.22–124.75 MPa), and bending strength (23.35–97.94 MPa). Furthermore, the generation of ceramization products during the oxyacetylene flame ablation process, specifically SiC and Si3N4, enhanced the ablation resistance of PSZ‐PR/CF composites: the linear ablation rates are as low as 0.112 and 0.018 mm/s at 4.18 MW/m2 (20 s) and 1.20 MW/m2 (120 s) of oxyacetylene heat flow, respectively. The corresponding maximum back temperatures are only 51.0°C and 60.3°C. Notably, the carbon/ceramic network is still present in the ablation layer to protect the carbon fibers from oxidation. This ceramizable PSZ‐PR/CF composite has good potential for application in the field of thermal protection.Highlights PSZ improves thermal stability and ablation properties of PSZ‐PR/CF. The PSZ‐PR/CF composites exhibit excellent mechanical and ablation properties. The ceramic products improve the scouring resistance of aerogel matrixes. The ceramizable PSZ‐PR/CF was prepared by low‐cost ambient pressure drying.

Fabrication of carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites by inorganic binders

Infiltration is an important issue for unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced aluminum matrix (CF/Al) composites. In the present study, aluminum dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) and silica sol were used to prepare CF preforms, then CF/Al composites were prepared by simulated horizontal continuous casting. The results showed that silica sol significantly affects the curing process of ADP. When the content of silica sol is 50 % and heated at 500 °C, the product transformed from Al(PO3)3 (cubic system) to an amorphous phase with good thermostability. The mixture binder can fully fill the gaps between CFs, leading to a dense CF preform. The obtained CF/Al composite has a good bonding interface between Al and CFs, without pores or crack defects, and thus shows an obvious enhancement in tensile strength of 64.9 MPa, which is 34.6 % improved compared with that of CPAl. The CF/Al composites also maintained a good electrical conductivity of 56.9 % IACS, similar to that of CPAl.

Tomographic and Tension Analysis of Polypropylene Reinforced with Carbon Fiber Fabric by Injection Molding.

The use of thermoplastic materials has had significant growth in recent years. However, with great mechanical requirements, thermoplastics have limitations to their use. To improve these restrictions, these materials are reinforced to obtain better properties. Polypropylene is one of the most versatile polymers and is used in almost all modern industries. Thus, the aim of this study is to create composite materials that offer performance for various industrial fields using carbon fiber fabric reinforcement, which is an inexpensive material widely used by the aerospace, automotive, and marine industries. The samples are produced by the over-injection molding of polypropylene. The investigation is focused on the impact of two critical control parameters in the injection molding process: temperature and pressure. Twelve experiments have therefore been considered, taking into account the combination of three factors: the presence or absence of carbon fiber fabric reinforcement, three levels of temperature (200 °C, 220 °C, and 240 °C), and two injection pressures (5000 kPa and 10,000 kPa). To evaluate the influence of these factors, three analyses were carried out: first, on the samples' shrinkage using a portable metrology-grade 3D laser scanner; second, on the internal defects using computed tomography (CT); and third, on the mechanical properties with tensile tests. From the results obtained, it is observed that the mold shrinkage fell slightly when PP samples were reinforced with carbon fiber, with both materials (PP and carbon-fiber-reinforced PP) having linear behavior with temperature. It is also noticed that polypropylene behaves as a crystalline material when processed at higher temperatures and pressures. From tests on the mechanical properties, it is concluded that the mean yield strength of PP-CF for injection temperatures of 220 °C and 240 °C represents an increase of 43% compared to the non-reinforced material.

Multi-scale optimization of selectively magnetized isotropic carbon fiber fabrics for microwave absorption using machine learning

A synergistic collaboration between microscopic analysis and macroscopic engineering is essential to attain optimal scientific properties. Traditional material design methods are ineffective in navigating the vast and infinite design space of cross-scale systems. Fortunately, machine learning provides an efficient and time-saving scientific solution for exploring the boundless possibilities offered by multi-component and structural materials systems. Crucially, the development of theoretical predictions, supported by theoretical calculations and finite element simulations, will facilitate the global optimization of materials. In this study, the structure and component of selective magnetic surface @ CF fabric are screened and balanced simultaneously using target-driven optimization frame. In order to achieve dynamic adjustment of micro surface and macro structure parameters, the relative factors are translated into codes and introduced into the design. And simulation, experimental feedback and corrections are established. The flexible CCGF shows a broad effective absorption bandwidth with 8.2 GHz with a thickness of only 1.76 mm and a density of 8.8 × 10−4 kg cm−3. Step-by-step optimizations and summaries are performed for data analysis, together with finite element simulation-based electromagnetic and loss field analysis and theoretical analysis to accelerate understanding, paving the way for development of novel materials for both functional and structural applications.

Influence of carbon fiber nickel electroplating on the electromagnetic interference shielding and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 6 composites

AbstractThis article investigates the use of nickel electroplated carbon fiber (Ni‐CF) fabric to enhance the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding capability of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTs), particularly for automotive and aerospace applications. The study examines the influence of nickel electroplating parameters of carbon fiber on the morphologies of carbon fiber fabrics. Ni‐CF reinforced polyamide 6 (Ni‐CF/PA 6) was prepared by the film‐stacking method. The flexural properties analysis demonstrates a 21.1% increase in flexural strength for Ni‐CF/PA 6 composites compared to as‐received carbon fiber reinforced PA 6 (CF/PA 6) composites. Additionally, the introduction of nickel layer significantly improves the EMI shielding efficiency of CF/PA 6 composites, with the average shielding efficiency increasing from 23.5 to 31.6 dB within the X‐band and Ku‐band frequency ranges. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis confirms that the nickel layer enhances the interfacial bonding between the PA 6 matrix and the Ni‐CF, which is attributed to the micro cone‐shaped structures of the nickel layer. Overall, the electroplating method effectively modifies the carbon fiber surface, resulting in composite laminates with enhanced mechanical properties and superior EMI shielding efficiency. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of advanced carbon fiber reinforced composites with improved functionalities in various applications.Highlights The electroplating method is used to process the nickel electroplated carbon fiber fabrics. The introduction of micro cone‐shaped structure nickel on the fiber surface by electroplating provides the mechanical interlocking between carbon fiber and matrix. The nickel electroplated carbon fiber can significantly increase electromagnetic interference shielding capability of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites.

Carbon fiber cloth loaded core-shell structured Pd@AgCl-Ag as an efficient bifunctional electrode for direct hydrogen peroxide-hydrogen peroxide fuel cells

A bifunctional Pd@AgCl-Ag/O-CFC electrode was prepared on oxidized carbon fiber cloth (O-CFC) by hydrothermal method and Galvanic reaction and used for catalytic H2O2 reduction reaction (HPRR) and oxidation reaction (HPOR). The catalyst on electrode surface presents a particular core-shell structure with Ag and AgCl as the core and Pd and AgCl as the shell, facilitating the synergistic interaction between the bimetals and the exposure of the primary active substance of Pd. The Pd@AgCl-Ag/O-CFC electrode exhibited excellent catalytic performance for both HPRR and HPOR with current densities of − 733.3 mA cm−2 and 708.0 mA cm−2, respectively. For the kinetic study, the activation energy of HPRR catalyzed by the Pd@AgCl-Ag/O-CFC electrode was low (7.59 kJ mol−1), and both the electroreduction and electrooxidation reaction processes were controlled by a hybrid of substance diffusion and kinetics. The electroreduction and electrooxidation reactions of H2O2 on the surface of the Pd@AgCl-Ag/O-CFC electrode are both irreversible processes, and their reaction levels are 1 and 0.5, respectively. The direct hydrogen peroxide-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell (DPPFC) was assembled with Pd@AgCl-Ag/O-CFC as a bifunctional electrode, and the open circuit potential reached 0.75 V and power density reached 61.9 mW cm−2 at 338.15 K. In addition, due to the stability of the structure and catalytic performance of the Pd@AgCl-Ag/O-CFC electrode, the DPPFC can operate stably for a long time. This work indicates that the as-prepared Pd@AgCl-Ag/O-CFC can be a promising electrode for DPPFC.