Constructing a Novel Moderately Modulus "Rigid-Flexible" Structure with Synergistic Reinforcement on the Carbon Fiber Surface to Enhance the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites at Elevated Temperatures

Peifeng Feng; Lichun Ma; Mingguang Zhang; Yiling Quan; Mingzhuan Li; Xin Zhou; Xingyao Liu; Xigao Jian; Jian Xu

doi:10.1021/acsami.4c04051

Constructing a Novel Moderately Modulus "Rigid-Flexible" Structure with Synergistic Reinforcement on the Carbon Fiber Surface to Enhance the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites at Elevated Temperatures

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2024 Apr 18. doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c04051. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Peifeng Feng^{1

2

3}, Lichun Ma⁴, Mingguang Zhang¹, Yiling Quan^{1

2

3}, Mingzhuan Li^{1

2

3}, Xin Zhou^{2

3}, Xingyao Liu^{1

2

3}, Xigao Jian¹, Jian Xu^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Liaoning High Performance Polymer Engineering Research Center, Department of Polymer Science and Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
² Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Data-Driven High-Safety Energy Materials and Applications, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials and Chemistry, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
³ Qianwan Institute of CNITECH, Ningbo 315336, China.
⁴ Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Material Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.

PMID: 38635355
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c04051

Abstract

To improve the mechanical performance of carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy composites in high-temperature environments, a moderately modulus gradient modulus interlayer was constructed at the interface phase region of composites. This involved the design of a "rigid-flexible" synergistic reinforcement structure, incorporating rigid nanoparticle GO@CNTs and a flexible polymer polynaphthyl ether nitrile ketone onto the CF surface. Notably, at 180 °C, compared to commercial CF composites, the CF-GO@CNTs-PPENK composites displayed a remarkable improvement in their mechanical characteristics (interfacial shear, interlaminar shear, flexural strength, and modulus), achieving enhancements of 173.0, 91.5, 225.7, and 376.4%, respectively. The principal reason for this the moderately modulus interface phase composed of GO@CNTs-PPENK (where GO and CNTs predominantly consist of carbon atoms with sp²-hybridized orbitals, forming highly stable C-C structures, while PPENK possesses a "twisted non-coplanar" structure), which exhibited resistance to deformation at high temperatures. Moreover, it greatly improved the mechanical interlocking, wettability, and chemical compatibility between CF and the epoxy. It also played a crucial role in balancing and buffering the modulus disparity. The interface failure behavior and reinforcement mechanisms of the CF composites were analyzed. Furthermore, validation of the presence of a moderately modulus gradient interlayer at the interface phase region of CF-GO@CNTs-PPENK composites was performed by using atomic force microscopy. This study has established a theoretical foundation for the development of high-performance CF composites for use in high-temperature fields.

Keywords: cabon fiber; elevated temperatures; gradient interface layer; moderately modulus; “rigid-flexible” structure.