J-Integral Experimental Reduction Reveals Fracture Toughness Improvements in Thin-Ply Carbon Fiber Laminates with Aligned Carbon Nanotube Interlaminar Reinforcement

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Furtado, C (Author) FEUP; Kopp, R (Author) Other; Ni, XC (Author) Other; Sarrado, C (Author) Other; Kalfon-Cohen, E (Author) Other; Wardle, BL (Author) Other; Camanho, PP (Author) Other

Journal

Title: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

No. 9

ISSN: 1944-8244

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

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Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-BKB

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c17333

Abstract (EN): The Mode I, Mode II, and mixed-mode interlaminar failure behavior of a thin-ply (54 gsm) carbon fiber-epoxy laminated composite reinforced by 20 mu m tall z-direction-aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs), comprising similar to 50 billion CNT fibers per cm(2), is analyzed following J-integral-based data reduction methods. The inclusion of aligned CNTs in the ply interfaces provides enhanced crack resistance, resulting in sustained crack deflection from the reinforced interlaminar region to the intralaminar region of the adjacent plies, i.e., the CNTs drive the crack from the interlaminar region into the plies. The CNTs do not appreciably increase the interlaminar thickness or laminate weight and preserve the intralaminar microfiber morphology. Improvements of 34 and 62% on the Mode I and Mode II initiation fracture toughness, respectively, are observed. This type of interlaminar nanoreinforcement effectively drives crack propagation from the interface to within the ply where the crack propagates parallel to the interlaminar region, providing new insight into previously reported strength and fatigue performance increases. These findings extend to industries where lightweight and durable materials are critical for improving the structural efficiency.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10