SiC Nanowire-Si3N4 Nanobelt Interlocking Interfacial Enhancement of Carbon Fiber Composites with Boosting Mechanical and Frictional Properties

Carbon fiber composites composed of carbon fiber and pyrolytic carbon (PyC) matrix have great potential application in the brakes of aircrafts, where the combination of high mechanical strength and excellent frictional properties are required. In this work, two-component silicon-based interlocking enhancements were designed and constructed into carbon fiber composites for boosting the mechanical and frictional properties. Specially, silicon carbide nanowires (SiCnws) and silicon nitride nanobelts (Si(3)N(4)nbs) could form interlocking architectures, where SiCnws are rooted firmly on the carbon fiber surface in the radial direction and Si(3)N(4)nbs integrate the PyC matrix with carbon fibers together via a networked shape. SiCnws-Si(3)N(4)nbs not only refine the PyC matrix but also promote the bonding of the fiber/matrix interface and the cohesion strength of the PyC matrix, thus enhancing the mechanical and frictional properties. Benefiting from the SiCnws-Si(3)N(4)nbs synergistic effect and interlocking enhancement mechanism, the interlaminar shear strength and compressive strength of carbon fiber composites increased by 88.41% and 73.40%, respectively. In addition, the friction coefficient and wear rate of carbon fiber composites decreased by 39.50% and 69.88%, respectively. This work could open up an interlocking enhancement strategy for efficiently fabricating carbon fiber composites and promoting mechanical and frictional properties that could be used in the brakes of aircrafts.

Automated summary

This study introduces a novel interlocking enhancement strategy by incorporating silicon carbide nanowires and silicon nitride nanobelts into carbon fiber composites to improve their mechanical and frictional properties. The interlocking enhancement mechanism not only increases the interlaminar shear strength and compressive strength of the composites, but also decreases the friction coefficient and wear rate.