Processing and evaluation of a carbon fiber/epoxy composite reinforced in the interlaminar region with carbon nanotubes and nanofibers
[摘要] This study demonstrates that introducing Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Vapor Grown Carbon Fibers (VGCFs) into the interlaminar region of a carbon fiber/epoxy composite can enhance the resistance to delamination of the material. Delamination is a critical failure mode of laminated composites, materials widely used for aerospace applications, and previous work demonstrated that CNTs can be used to address this problem. In this thesis a new method to increase resistance to delamination is proposed. The approach consists of using VGCFs and CNTs simultaneously so that a synergistic effect in the enhancement of the mechanical properties of the composite is obtained. The nanocomposites were created using a spraying technique, followed by a Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) process. A maximum toughness increase of 51% with respect to the un-reinforced material was obtained when 0.025 wt% VGCF and 0.025 wt% CNT were combined, a result attributed to synergism occurring between the nanomaterials.
[发布日期] [发布机构] Rice University
[效力级别] engineering [学科分类]
[关键词] [时效性]