TY - JOUR
T1 - Growing Carbon Nanotubes In Situ Surrounding Carbon Fiber Surface via Chemical Vapor Deposition to Reinforce Flexural Strength of Carbon Fiber Composites
AU - Yang, Guangming
AU - Cheng, Fei
AU - Zuo, Shihao
AU - Zhang, Jinheng
AU - Xu, Yang
AU - Hu, Yunsen
AU - Hu, Xiaozhi
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - This study employed novel joint treatments to strengthen the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) were prepared in situ on the catalyst-treated CF surface via the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, intertwining into three-dimensional fiber-nets and fully surrounding CF to form an integrated structure. The resin pre-coating (RPC) technique was further used to guide diluted epoxy resin (without hardener) to flow into nanoscale and submicron spaces to eliminate void defects at the root of VACNTs. Three-point bending testing results showed the “growing CNTs and RPC”-treated CFRP composites yielded the best flexural strength, a 27.1% improvement over the specimens without treatment, while the failure modes indicated that the original delamination failure was changed into “flexural failure” with through-the-thickness crack propagation. In brief, growing VACNTs and RPC on the CF surface enabled toughening of the epoxy adhesive layer, reducing potential void defects and constructing the integrated quasi-Z-directional fiber bridging at the CF/epoxy interface for stronger CFRP composites. Therefore, the joint treatments of growing VACNTs in situ via the CVD method and RPC technique are very effective and have great potential in manufacturing high-strength CFRP composites for aerospace applications.
AB - This study employed novel joint treatments to strengthen the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) were prepared in situ on the catalyst-treated CF surface via the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, intertwining into three-dimensional fiber-nets and fully surrounding CF to form an integrated structure. The resin pre-coating (RPC) technique was further used to guide diluted epoxy resin (without hardener) to flow into nanoscale and submicron spaces to eliminate void defects at the root of VACNTs. Three-point bending testing results showed the “growing CNTs and RPC”-treated CFRP composites yielded the best flexural strength, a 27.1% improvement over the specimens without treatment, while the failure modes indicated that the original delamination failure was changed into “flexural failure” with through-the-thickness crack propagation. In brief, growing VACNTs and RPC on the CF surface enabled toughening of the epoxy adhesive layer, reducing potential void defects and constructing the integrated quasi-Z-directional fiber bridging at the CF/epoxy interface for stronger CFRP composites. Therefore, the joint treatments of growing VACNTs in situ via the CVD method and RPC technique are very effective and have great potential in manufacturing high-strength CFRP composites for aerospace applications.
KW - carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)
KW - chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
KW - integrated fiber bridging
KW - resin pre-coating (RPC)
KW - vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85160593784&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/polym15102309
DO - 10.3390/polym15102309
M3 - Article
C2 - 37242883
AN - SCOPUS:85160593784
SN - 2073-4360
VL - 15
JO - Polymers
JF - Polymers
IS - 10
M1 - 2309
ER -