Processing, characterization, and modeling of carbon nanotube-reinforced multiscale composites

作者：Kim Myungsoo; Park Young Bin^*; Okoli Okenwa I; Zhang Chuck

来源：Composites Science and Technology, 2009, 69(3-4): 335-342.

DOI：10.1016/j.compscitech.2008.10.019

• Carbon nanotube
• Hybrid composites
• Nanocomposites
• Modeling
• Resin transfer molding (RTM)

Carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated and characterized. High-energy sonication was used to disperse CNTs in the resin, followed by infiltration of fiber preform with the resin/CNT mixture. The effects of sonication time on the mechanical properties of "multiscale" composites, which contain reinforcements at varying scales, were studied. A low CNT loading of 0.3 wt% in resin had little influence on tensile properties, while it improved the flexural modulus, strength, and percent strain to break by 11.6%, 18.0%, and 11.4%, respectively, as compared to the control carbon fiber/epoxy composite. While sonication is an effective method to disperse CNTs in a resin, duration, intensity, and temperature need to be controlled to prevent damages imposed on CNTs and premature resin curing. A combination of Halpin-Tsai equations and woven fiber micromechanics was used in hierarchy to predict the mechanical properties of multiscale composites, and the discrepancies between the predicted and experimental values are explained.

• 出版日期2009-3