Interlaminar Properties of Prepregs Reinforced with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Oxide

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are widely used in industries such as aerospace due to their lightweight nature and high strength. However, weak interfacial bonding strength is one of the main problems of resin-based composites. In this study, a prepreg was prepared by melt mixing. By dispersing nanoreinforcement particles in the resin, the interlaminar shear strength of the CFRP was increased by approximately 23.6%. When only 0.5 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was used for reinforcement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed that cracks were hindered by the MWCNTs during propagation, causing crack deflection. At the same time, the mechanism of MWCNTs pulling out increased the energy required for crack propagation. When only 0.5 wt% graphene oxide (GO) was added, the reinforcement effect was inferior to that of using the same amount of MWCNTs. The laminar structure formed by GO and the resin matrix adhered to the carbon fiber surface, reducing the degree of destruction of the resin matrix, but its hindering effect on crack propagation was weak. When 0.5 wt% of MWCNT and GO mixture was added, the interlayer shear strength increased from 55.6 MPa in the blank group to 68.7 MPa. The laminar structure of GO provided a platform for the MWCNTs to form a mesh structure inside its matrix. At the same time, the tubular structure of the MWCNTs inhibited the stacking of GO, providing better dispersion and forming a synergistic enhancement effect.

Automated summary

In this study, a prepreg was prepared by melt mixing to increase the interlaminar shear strength of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. When only 0.5 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was used as reinforcement, cracks were hindered and deflected by the MWCNTs during propagation, while the mechanism of MWCNTs pulling out increased the energy required for crack propagation. The reinforcement effect of adding 0.5 wt% graphene oxide (GO) alone was inferior to that of using the same amount of MWCNTs, but when a mixture of MWCNT and GO was added, the interlayer shear strength increased significantly due to the synergistic enhancement effect of the laminar structure of GO and the tubular structure of MWCNTs.