Investigating the Effects that Alternative Turbine Engine Fuels have on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composite

The inclusion of electrospun nanofiber veils was revealed as an effective method for enhancing the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites. These veils will eventually allow the incorporation of nanomaterials not only for mechanical reinforcement but also in multifunctional applications. Therefore, this paper investigates the effect of electrospun nanofibrous veils made of polyamide 6 modified with TiO2 nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of a carbon-fiber/epoxy composite. The nanofibers were included in the carbon-fiber/epoxy composite as a single structure. The effect of positioning these veils in different composite positions was investigated. Compared to the reference, the use of unmodified and TiO2 modified veils increased the flexural stress at failure and the fracture toughness of composites. When TiO2 modified veils were incorporated, new antibacterial properties were achieved due to the photocatalytic properties of the veils, widening the application area of these composites.

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Effects of environmental exposures on carbon fiber epoxy composites protected by metallic thin films

Journal of Composite Materials ◽

10.1177/0021998319859051 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 167-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Arash Afshar ◽

Dorina Mihut ◽

Pengyu Chen

Keyword(s):

Thin Films ◽

Mechanical Properties ◽

Carbon Fiber ◽

Surface Morphology ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Epoxy Composite ◽

Epoxy Composites ◽

Metallic Thin Films ◽

Wide Range ◽

Carbon Fiber Epoxy

Carbon fiber epoxy composites have a wide range of applications in aerospace, construction, and automotive industries due to their good mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics. Carbon fiber epoxy composite structures are typically intended for service in corrosive and hostile environmental conditions. Therefore, development of coatings which are able to protect carbon fiber epoxy composite laminates against prolonged and harsh environmental conditions such as ultraviolet radiation and moisture deems critical. This paper offers a novel method for environmental protection of fiber-reinforced polymer composites by applying thin metallic films on composites' surface as coating materials. In order to investigate the protective properties of metallic thin films, copper and aluminum coatings were deposited on the surface of carbon fiber epoxy specimens by using direct current magnetron-sputtering technique, and then mechanical properties and surface morphology of specimens were monitored during the course of accelerated environmental exposure. Both metallic coatings showed good adhesion to carbon fiber epoxy samples during environmental aging and provided protection for the specimens' surface against environmental degradation. The correlation between flexural properties and surface morphology of carbon fiber epoxy specimens is also presented.

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