Effect of Microstructures of Carbon Nanoproducts Grown on Carbon Fibers on the Interfacial Properties of Epoxy Composites

The Effect of Carbon Nanofibers on the Mechanical Performance of Epoxy-Based Composites: A Review

This review is a fundamental tool for researchers and engineers involved in the design and optimization of fiber-reinforced composite materials. The aim is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the mechanical performance of composites with epoxy matrices reinforced with carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The review includes studies investigating the static mechanical response through three-point bending (3PB) tests, tensile tests, and viscoelastic behavior tests. In addition, the properties of the composites' resistance to interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), mode I and mode II interlaminar fracture toughness (ILFT), and low-velocity impact (LVI) are analyzed. The incorporation of small amounts of CNFs, mostly between 0.25 and 1% by weight was shown to have a notable impact on the static and viscoelastic properties of the composites, leading to greater resistance to time-dependent deformation and better resistance to creep. ILSS and ILFT modes I and II of fiber-reinforced composites are critical parameters in assessing structural integrity through interfacial bonding and were positively affected by the introduction of CNFs. The response of composites to LVI demonstrates the potential of CNFs to increase impact strength by reducing the energy absorbed and the size of the damage introduced. Epoxy matrices reinforced with CNFs showed an average increase in stiffness of 15% and 20% for bending and tensile, respectively. The laminates, on the other hand, showed an increase in bending stiffness of 20% and 15% for tensile and modulus, respectively. In the case of ILSS and ILFT modes I and II, the addition of CNFs promoted average increases in the order of 50%, 100%, and 50%, respectively.

Effect of Diameter on the Structural Evolution and Tensile Properties of Electrospun PAN-Based Carbon Nanofiber Mats

The mechanical properties of carbon nanofiber mats (CNFMs) were closely correlated with the fiber diameter due to their brittle nature. In this work, CNFMs with different fiber diameters were prepared by electrospinning with different spinning parameters, followed by stabilization in air and carbonization in nitrogen. Structural characterizations revealed that PAN nanofibers with smaller diameters tended to form larger cross-linking structures during stabilization. Meanwhile, the degree of graphitization of CNFMs was higher when the diameter was reduced. However, the tensile properties of CNFM were not solely determined by the fiber diameter but were the general reflection of structural regularity and defects. The highest tensile strength of 125.2 MPa was achieved when the fiber diameter was around 500 nm.

Bisphenol-A-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite: Interfacial DFT Prediction and Experimental Strength Testing

Epoxies, their derivatives, and composites, due to superior specific strength, are preferred for many potential applications in the field of automobiles, aircraft, bonding of structures, protective coatings, water filtration, etc. As structural members in automobiles and aircraft, the epoxy-based components are exposed to various static/dynamic mechanical loading conditions during their service life. The interfacial interactions, between the matrix and reinforcement, greatly affect the final properties of the composites. The present study demonstrates that the solvent used for the preparation of the composite can also contribute toward interfacial interactions. Present research systematically finds out a suitable solvent (acetone) and reinforcement type [multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT)] for epoxy [bisphenol-A (BPA)] nanocomposites. Dynamic and static strengths of the as-prepared epoxy-CNT nanocomposites were carefully investigated. Well dispersed CNTs in acetone were mixed with an ester of BPA under constant magnetic stirring conditions. Samples of tablet shape were prepared for testing static and dynamic performance of the composite using a nano-indentation technique. Considerable enhancement by 55 and 22% in the static elastic modulus and hardness of BPA-CNT composites, respectively, was observed (compared with that of pristine BPA). The storage modulus and tan-delta of the nanocomposites were also improved by 14 and 46%, respectively. Improved static and dynamic performance, reported in this work, significantly enhances the scope of utilization of BPA-CNT-based nanocomposites under severe static and dynamic loading conditions simultaneously. Static and dynamical analysis of CNT-reinforced epoxy provides more realistic understanding of the mechanical performance of the nanocomposite. Density functional theory (using QuantumATK software) simulations were performed to investigate and identify the alterations in the atomic morphology of CNTs during interfacial interaction with the acetone molecule and epoxy matrix. The calculations predicted that CNTs with mild defects as compared to pristine CNTs were better suited for synthesis of the nanocomposite and also assisted in a homogeneous distribution of CNTs in BPA without aggregation (with acetone as the solvent). Furthermore, structural changes in CNTs after treatment with BPA and the curing agent and the role of defects are studied in detail.

Key Factors of Mechanical Strength and Toughness in Oriented Poly(l-lactic acid) Monofilaments for a Bioresorbable Self-Expanding Stent

The investigation of the strength and toughness of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) monofilaments is essential as the fundamental element of a biodegradable braided stent. However, the determining factor remains poorly addressed with respect to influencing the mechanical behavior of PLLA monofilaments. In this work, the electron beam (EB) with different radiation doses was utilized to sterilize PLLA monofilaments. Properties of the monofilaments, including the breaking strength, elongation at break, molecular weight, orientation, and microstructure of the fracture, were characterized. Results showed that a random chain scission of PLLA resulting from EB during this process could cause the decrease in molecular weight, which led to the decline in breaking strength. Meanwhile, the irradiated monofilaments were found to have almost the same elongation at break below a dose of 30 kGy and declined by 71.41% up to a dose of 48 kGy. It was also found that the ductile fracture connection of the monofilament translated to the brittle fracture by comparing the microstructure without and with sterilization. These phenomena could originate from the destruction of the long molecular chains connecting the crystal plates into shorter ones by radiation. PLLA monofilaments with 0, 30, and 48 kGy were used to braid carotid stents. Compared with a carotid Wallstent, the PLLA stent can better provide radial supporting to the carotid lesion. This study provides preliminary experimental references to evaluate and predict the mechanical performance of PLLA braided stents.

Improve the Interfacial Properties between Poly(arylene sulfide sulfone) and Carbon Fiber by Double Polymeric Grafted Layers Designed on a Carbon Fiber Surface

Double polymeric grafted layer is constructed by two steps of chemical reaction, in which two polymers had been used, respectively polydopamine (PDA) film and modified PASS (NH₂-PASS) resin containing amine group, as the interphase in carbon fiber reinforced poly(arylene sulfide sulfone) (PASS) composite (CF/PASS) to work on enhancing the interfacial property. All the test results of chemical components and chemical structures on the carbon fiber surface show that the double polymeric grafted layer was constructed successfully with PDA and NH₂-PASS chains. And obvious characteristics of thin PDA film and a polymer layer can be clearly seen in the morphology of modified carbon fiber. In addition to this, the obvious interphase and change in the thickness of interphase have been observed in the modulus distribution images of CF/PASS. The final superb performance is achieved by PASS composites with a double polymeric grafted layer, 27.2% and 198.6% superior to the original PASS composite for IFSS and ILSS, respectively. Moreover, the result also indicates that constructing a double polymeric grafted layer on a carbon fiber surface is a promising technique to modify carbon fiber for processing high-performance advanced thermoplastic composites and is more environmental friendly as well as convenient.

Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Encountering Tannic Acid: A Mild and Efficient Strategy for Interface Modification on Carbon Fiber Composites

Designing and controlling the interfacial chemistry and microstructure of the carbon fiber is an important step in the surface modification and preparation of high-performance composites. To address this issue, a tannic acid (TA)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) hybrid microstructure, similar to the topological structure, is designed on the fiber surface by one-pot synthesis under mild conditions. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) show that the functionality and surface roughness of the fiber are significantly broadened. Correspondingly, the tensile strength (TS) of CF-TA/POSS₁₀₀ and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of CF-TA/POSS₁₀₀-based composites increased by 18 and 34%, respectively. Following that, a failure mechanism study is conducted to demonstrate the interphase structure containing TA/POSS, which is quite critical in optimizing the mechanical performance of the multiscale composites. Moreover, the strategy for the use of TA for constructing a robust coating to replace the traditional modification without affecting the fiber intrinsic strength is an improved design and provides a new idea for the development of high-performance composites.