What happens when carbon fiber composites meet graphene oxide?

Carbon fiber reinforced composites have been used in a variety of industries including the automotive, marine and aerospace industries. These materials have excellent tensile strength, but suffer from defects such as brittleness and poor interfacial adhesion, which can delaminate and severely degrade the material.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites

CFRP has applications in several industries including the automotive, marine and aerospace industries. These materials have excellent tensile strength, but suffer from defects such as brittleness and poor interfacial adhesion, which can delaminate and severely degrade the material.

To address these issues, one strategy is to combine different forms of carbon nanostructures. Several studies have explored the use of these materials to improve the mechanical properties of these composites and to introduce functional properties such as self-healing, self-sensing, and de-icing, as well as energy savings during fabrication.

Different forms of carbon nanostructures

Incorporating different forms of carbon nanostructures into composites can achieve different functional properties and improve mechanical properties. For example, the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes can improve the conductivity of the composite material, and the manufacturing process can affect the specific value of the conductivity. The addition of graphene-based nanoparticles can further improve some functional properties that depend on thermal management and reduce the humidity of epoxy-based composites.

The preparation of single-layer graphene has always been the focus of research, but so far, high-performance materials with excellent electrical conductivity and related functional properties have not been developed. During the manufacturing process, graphene layers tend to recombine, hindering the formation of defect-free materials. To avoid material reorganization, a functionalization step is required, which complicates the process and brings challenges such as degraded electronic performance.

Graphene oxide nanosheets, composed of stacked graphene layers, can solve these problems. Dispersing graphene oxide nanoparticles in a polymer matrix can also improve the adhesion between carbon fibers and epoxy matrix during the impregnation process. The polar functional groups present in graphene nanoparticles provide strong interactions with the epoxy matrix. The core structure of the nanoparticles can promote strong interactions with carbon fibers.

researchers comprehensively evaluate recent research progress on the use of graphene oxide nanoparticles to improve the performance of CFRP.

The addition of graphene oxide nanosheets can improve the viscoelastic, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of these materials. This study addresses the role of functionalization on the covalent functionalization of these composites. The key role of graphene oxide is to open up reaction sites on the fiber surface and in the polymer matrix. The researchers noted that different functional groups have different effects on the composite. The hydroxyl groups provide the fiber with a topology containing voids and a globular dendritic surface, while the carboxyl groups have the effect of oxidizing the same surface. Both of these groups provide open space for the fibers to strengthen the interlock with the polymer matrix.

There are several functionalization methods to improve interfacial adhesion. The use of silane coupling agents is of interest because they generate hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine groups at the edges and surfaces of materials.

In addition, the researchers also reviewed the application status and prospects of graphene oxide-modified composites. These materials can be used in the aerospace industry, automotive industry, military and civil engineering sectors, including engine components, ballistic systems such as next-generation body armor, and cables for suspension bridges. Composite materials have been used in research into energy storage devices and sensing capabilities.