Study of the Diffusion Behavior of Seawater Absorption in Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes/Halloysite Nanotubes Hybrid Nanofillers Modified Epoxy-Based Glass/Carbon Fiber Composites

In the maritime industry, cost-effective and lightweight Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites offer excellent mechanical properties, design flexibility, and corrosion resistance. However, their reliability in harsh seawater conditions is a concern. Researchers address this by exploring three approaches: coating fiber surfaces, hybridizing fibers and matrices with or without nanofillers, and interply rearrangement. This study focuses on evaluating the synergistic effects of interply rearrangement of glass/carbon fibers and hybrid nanofillers, specifically Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and Halloysite nanotubes (HNT). The aim is to enhance impact properties by minimizing moisture absorption. Hybrid nanocomposites with equal-weight proportions of two nanofillers: 0 wt.%, 1 wt.%, and 2 wt.% were exposed to seawater for 90 days. Experimental data was subjected to modelling through the application of Predictive Fick’s Law. The study found that the hybrid composite containing 2 wt.% hybrid nanofillers exhibited a 22.10% increase in impact performance compared to non-modified counterparts. After 90 days of seawater aging, the material exhibited enhanced resistance to moisture absorption (15.74%) and minimal reduction in impact strength (8.52%) compared to its dry strength, with lower diffusion coefficients.

High-sensitivity phase imaging eddy current magneto-optical system for carbon fiber reinforced polymers detection

This paper proposed a high-sensitivity phase imaging eddy current magneto-optical (PI-ECMO) system for carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) defect detection. In contrast to other eddy current-based detection systems, the proposed system employs a fixed position excitation coil while enabling the detection point to move within the detection region. This configuration effectively mitigates the interference caused by the lift-off effect, which is commonly observed in systems with moving excitation coils. Correspondingly, the relationship between the defect characteristics (orientation and position) and the surface vertical magnetic field distribution (amplitude and phase) is studied in detail by theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. Experiments conducted on woven CFRP plates demonstrate that the designed PI-ECMO system is capable of effectively detecting both surface and internal cracks, as well as impact defects. The excitation current is significantly reduced compared with traditional eddy current magneto-optical (ECMO) systems.

High-cycle Fatigue Life Extension of Glass Fiber/Polymer Composites with Carbon Nanotubes

The present work shows that the addition of small volume fractions of multi-walled carbon nanotubes （CNTs） to the matrix results in a significant increase in the high-cycle fatigue life. It is proposed that carbon nanotubes tend to inhibit the formation of large cracks by nucleating nano-scale damage zones. In addition, the contribution to energy absorption from the fracture of nanotubes bridging across nano-scale cracks and from nanotube pull-out from the matrix are mechanisms that can improve the fatigue life. An energy-based model was proposed to estimate the additional strain energy absorbed in fatigue. The distributed nanotubes in the matrix appear to both distribute damage as well as inhibit damage propagation resulting in an overall improvement in the fatigue strength of glass fiber composites.

Mechanical joint performances of friction self-piercing riveted carbon fiber reinforced polymer and AZ31B Mg alloy

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer(CFRP) and AZ31B Mg alloy were joined by the friction self-piercing riveting(F-SPR) with different steel rivet shank sizes. With the increase of rivet shank size, lap shear fracture load and mechanical interlock distance increased. Ultrafine grains were formed at the joint in AZ31B as a result of dynamic recrystallization, which contributed to the higher hardness. Fatigue life of the CFRP-AZ31B joint was studied at various peak loads of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kN and compared with the resistance spot welded AZ31B-AZ31B from the open literature. The fatigue performance was better at higher peak load(>2 kN) and comparable to that of resistance spot welding of AZ31B to AZ31B at lower peak loads(<1 kN). From fractography, the crack initiation for lower peak load(<1 kN) case was observed at the fretting positions on the top and bottom surfaces of AZ31B sheet. When peak load was increased, fretting between the rivet and the top of AZ31B became more dominant to initiate a crack during fatigue testing.

Preparation and Surface Modification of High-Density Chitosan/Functionalized Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Hollow Fibers

Functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes( fMWNTs) were prepared with chitosan via controlled surface deposition and crosslinking process and scanning electron microscopy( SEM),Fourier translation infrared spectroscopy( FT-IR) and Xray diffraction( XRD) are used to character properties. A novel high-density chitosan( HCS) was dissolved in f-MWNTs dispersed dilute acetic acid with a maximal concentration of 5. 8%. The hollow fibers can be made by extruding the solution into a dilute alkali solution through a wet-spinning process and the tensile properties of the materials were evaluated by universal tester. The surface property of fibers,pretreated by Helium( He) and the following grafted with gelatin was evaluated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy( XPS).As the hollow fibers were intended for neural tissue engineering,its suitability was evaluated in vitro using rat Schwann cells( RSC96) as model cells. The cells attachment,proliferation and morphology,were studied by various microscopic techniques. Based on the results,the gelatin grafted HCS / f-MWNTs hollow fibers could be used as a potential cell carrier in neural tissue engineering.

Vapor-grown carbon fibers enhanced sulfur-multi walled carbon nanotubes composite cathode for lithium/sulfur batteries

Vapor-grown carbon fibers （VGCFs） were introduced as conductive additives for sulfur-multiwalled carbon nanotubes （S-MWCNTs） composite cathode of lithium-sulfur batteries. The performance of S-MWCNTs composite cathodes with carbon black and VGCFs as sole conductive additives was investigated using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, galvanostatic charge-discharge tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）. The results show that the S-MWCNTs composite cathode with VGCFs displays a network-like morphology and exhibits higher activity and better cycle durability compared with the composite cathode with carbon black, delivering an initial discharge capacity of 1254 mA＆#183;h/g and a capacity of 716 mA＆#183;h/g after 40 cycles at 335 mA/g. The interconnected VGCFs can provide a stable conductive network, suppress the aggregation of cathode materials and residual lithium sulfide and maintain the porosity of cathode, and therefore the electrochemical performance of S-MWCNTs composite cathode is enhanced.

Properties and Structure of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes/Cellulose Composites Fibers Using Ionic Liquid as Solvent

To take advantage of cellulose material and prepare a kind of high performance fiber,multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs) were used as fillers to produce MWNTs/cellulose composite fibers using ionic liquid as solvent.The thermal properties,mechanical properties,and structure of the composite fibers were investigated.The wide angle X-ray diffraction(WAXD) measurements show that MWNTs/cellulose composite fibers have cellulose Ⅱ crystal structure.The results obtained from thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA) indicate that the addition of low nanotubes amounts leads to an increase in the degrade temperature.The tensile mechanical properties show that initial modulus and tensile strength considerably increase in the presence of nanotubes with a maximum for 66.7% and 22.7%.

Observation of 550 MHz passively harmonic mode-locked pulses at L-band in an Er-doped fiber laser using carbon nanotubes film

We demonstrate a passively harmonic mode-locked（PHML） fiber laser operating at the L-band using carbon nanotubes polyvinyl alcohol（CNTs-PVA） film. Under suitable pump power and an appropriate setting of the polarization controller（PC）, the 54^（th） harmonic pulses at the L-band are generated with the side mode suppression ratio（SMSR） better than 44 dB and a repetition frequency of 503.37 MHz. Further increasing the pump power leads to a higher frequency of 550 MHz with compromised stability of 38.5 dB SMSR. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration on the generation of L-band PHML pulses from an Er-doped fiber laser based on CNTs.

Parameters of static response of carbon fiber reinforced polymer(CFRP) suspension cables

The feasibility of longer spans relies on the successful implementation of new high-strength light weight materials such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer(CFRP). First, a dimensionless equilibrium equation and the corresponding compatibility equation are established to develop the cable force equation and cable displacement governing equation for suspension cables, respectively. Subsequently, the inextensible cable case is introduced. The formula of the Irvine parameter is considered and its physical interpretation as well as its relationship with the chord gravity stiffness is presented. The influences on the increment of cable force and displacement by λ2 and load ratio p′ are analyzed, respectively. Based on these assumptions and the analytical formulations, a 2000 m span suspension cable is utilized as an example to verify the proposed formulation and the responses of the relative increment of cable force and cable displacement under symmetrical and asymmetrical loads are studied and presented. In each case, the deflections resulting from elastic elongation or solely due to geometrical displacement are analyzed for the lower elastic modulus CFRP. Finally, in comparison with steel cables, the influences on the cable force equation and the governing displacement equation by span and rise span ratio are analyzed. Moreover, the influences on the static performance of suspension bridge by span and sag ratios are also analyzed. The substantive characteristics of the static performance of super span CFRP suspension bridges are clarified and the superiority and the characteristics of CFRP cable structure are demonstrated analytically.

Shear strengthening of pre-damaged reinforced concrete beams with carbon fiber reinforced polymer sheet strips

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the response of pre-damaged reinforced concrete （RC） beam strengthened in shear using applied-epoxy unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer （CFRP） sheet. The reasearch included four test rectangular simply supported RC beams in shear capacity. One is the control beam, two RC beams are damaged to a predetermined degree from ultimate shear capacity of the control beam, and the last beam is left without pre-damaged and then strengthened with using externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer to upgrade their shear capacity. We focused on the damage degree to beams during strengthening, therefore, only the beams with sidebonded CFRPs strips and horizontal anchored strips were used. The results show the feasibility of using CFRPs to restore or increase the load-carrying capacity in the shear of damaged RC beams. The failure mode of all the CFRP-strengthened beams is debonding of CFRP vertical strips. Two prediction available models in AC1-440 and fib European code were compared with the experimental results.

STUDY ON ULTRASONIC VIBRATION DRILLING IN CARBON FIBER REINFORCED POLYMERS

This paper researches ultrasonic vibration drilling of carbon fiber reinforced polymers composites that are hard, brittle, and have low shear strength between layers. An experiment plan has been developed to reduce the axial force. Experimental studies have been done on the influence of process parameters, tool structures on the drilling axial force. The drilling mechanism is specially investigated. Thus an effective method is presented to reduce the drilling axial force. The authors suppose that ultrasonic vibration drilling is feasible for carbon fiber reinforced polymers composites.

Effect of Co-polyester antistatic agent modified by carbon nanotubes on the properties of polypropylene fibers

Antistatic polymer fibers were investigated by using carbon nanotubes （CNTs） to enhance the antistatic ability of inner antistatic agents based on the mechanism of attracting moisture by polar radical groups. It is indicated that the antistatic ability of the fibers filled with composite antistatic agents that contain CNTs and organic antistatic agents was superior to that of the fibers filled either with pure organic antistatic agents or pure CNTs. The antistatic ability of the composite antistatic agent fabricated by an in situ process was superior to that of the composite antistatic agent fabricated by direct dispersing CNTs in the antistatic agent carrier. Moreover, the heat-treated CNTs could further enhance the antistatic effect compared with the initial CNTs. The antistatic effect is significantly influenced by the content of CNTs in the composite antistatic agent.

A comparative study of polymer nanocomposites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets

Featuring exceptional mechanical and functional performance, MWCNTs and graphene(nano)platelets(GNPs or Gn Ps;each platelet below 10 nm in thickness) have been increasingly used for the development of polymer nanocomposites. Since MWCNTs are now cost-effective at US$30 per kg for industrial applications, this work starts by briefly reviewing the disentanglement and surface modification of MWCNTs as well as the properties of the resulting polymer nanocomposites. GNPs can be made through the thermal treatment of graphite intercalation compounds followed by ultrasonication;GNPs would have lower cost yet higher electrical conductivity over 1,400 S cmthan MWCNTs. Through proper surface modification and compounding techniques, both types of fillers can reinforce or toughen polymers and simultaneously add anti-static performance. A high ratio of MWCNTs to GNPs would increase the synergy for polymers. Green, solvent-free systhesis methods are desired for polymer nanocomposites. Perspectives on the limitations, current challenges and future prospects are provided.

Wear and transfer characteristics of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites under water lubrication

The tribological characteristics of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites under distilled-water-lubricated-sliding and dry-sliding against stainless steel were comparatively investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to examine composite microstructures and modes of failure. The typical chemical states of elements of the transfer film on the stainless steel were examined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Wear testing and SEM analysis show that all the composites hold the lowered friction coefficient and show much better wear resistance under water lubricated sliding against stainless steel than those under dry sliding. The wear of composites is characterized by plastic deformation, scuffing, micro cracking, and spalling under both dry-sliding and water lubricated conditions. Plastic deformation, scuffing, micro cracking, and spalling, however, are significantly abated under water-lubricated condition. XPS analysis conforms that none of the materials produces transfer films on the stainless steel counterface with the type familiar from dry sliding, and the transfer of composites onto the counterpart ring surface is significantly hindered while the oxidation of the stainless steel is speeded under water lubrication. The composites hinder transfer onto the steel surface and the boundary lubricating action of water accounts for the much smaller wear rate under water lubrication compared with that under dry sliding. The easier transfer of the composite onto the counterpart steel surface accounts for the larger wear rate of the polymer composite under dry sliding.

Continuous Deformation Monitoring by Polymermatrix Carbon Fiber Sensitive Layer

Composite made of short-cut carbon fiber mat and vinyl ester resin was observed to be an effective sensor for tensile strain up to 6 000με. Based on its strain sensitivity, a skin-like sensitive layer which can continuously cover the structural surface to sense strain in large area was developed. The sensitive layer was applied to continuously monitor the deformation of a simply supported beam. The result indicates that the fractional change in electrical resistance of the sensitive layer reversibly reflects the beam deformation in each section and describes the distribution of the average strain of the beam. The effect of temperature change on the monitoring was studied by monitoring tests conducted at different temperatures ranging from 20 to 80 ℃, which reveals temperature sensitivity in the sensitive layer and the temperature dependence of the piezoresistive behavior when the temperature exceeds 50 ℃. By the application of differential conaection principle, a method for temperature compensation was established and the gauge factor for the monitoring was dramatically increased. This method was verified experimentally.

High-energy pulse generation using Yb-doped Q-switched fiber laser based on single-walled carbon nanotubes

An all-fiber laser using a single-walled carbon nanotube（SWCNT） as the saturable absorber（SA） for Q-switched operation in the 1031 nm region is demonstrated in this work. A lasing threshold as low as 17 mW was realized for continuous wave operation. By further increasing the pump power, stable Q-switched pulse trains are obtained when the pump power ranges from 38 mW to 125 mW, corresponding to repetition rate varying from 40.84 kHz to 66.24 kHz, the pulse width from 2.0 μs to 1.0 μs,and the highest single pulse energy of 40.6 nJ respectively.

Flexible pulses from carbon nanotubes mode-locked fiber laser

We demonstrate a flexible erbium-doped pulsed fiber laser which achieves the wavelength and pulse width tuning by adjusting an intracavity filter. The intracavity filter is flexible to achieve any of the different wavelengths and bandwidths in the tuning range. The wavelength and width of pulse can be tuned in a range of - 20 nm and from - 0.8 ps to 87 ps, respectively. The flexible pulsed fiber laser can be accurately controlled, which is insensitive to environmental disturbance.

Experimental investigation for machinability aspects of graphene oxide/carbon fiber reinforced polymer nanocomposites and predictive modeling using hybrid approach

This article explores the drilling behavior of polymer nanocomposites reinforced by Graphene oxide/Carbon fiber using a hybrid method of Grey theory and Principal component analysis(GR-PCA).An online digital dynamometer was employed for the evaluation of Thrust Force and Torque.The image processing technique computes the delamination.Response surface methodology(RSM)considers the parameters,namely,drilling speed(S),feed rate(F),Graphene Oxide wt.%(G)in designing the experimentation array.Principal component analysis(PCA)was used to tackle the response priority weight during the combination of multiple functions.Analysis of variance(ANOVA)scrutinized the influence of parameters and intended the regression models to predict the response.GR-PCA evaluated the optimal parametric setting and remarked that feed rate acts as the most predominant factor.The higher feed rate and wt.%of G is responsible for surface damages like fiber pull-out,fiber fracture and cracks.A significant improvement in drilling responses has been obtained and also validates through confirmatory test and microstructure investigations.

A low-cost and high-strength basalt/carbon fiber reinforced polymer improved by imitating tree-root micro/nano aramid short fiber

The high-strength Basalt Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer(BCFRP)composites had been manufactured by guiding Imitating Tree-root Micro/Nano Aramid Short Fiber(ITMNASF)into the interlayer of Basalt Fiber(BF)and Carbon Fiber(CF)plies to form thin interleaving,and various mass proportions of IT-MNASF were designed to discuss the reinforcing effect on the BCFRP heterogeneous composites.The results of three points bending tests showed that flexural strength and energy absorption of 4wt%IT-MNASF reinforced BCFRP heterogeneous composites had been improved by 32.4%and 134.4%respectively compared with that of unreinforced specimens.The 4wt%IT-MNASF reinforced BCFRP specimens showed both a greater strength and a lower cost(reduced by 31%around)than that of plain CFRP composites.X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning results exhibited that the delamination-dominated failure of plain BCFRP composites was changed into multi-layer BF and CF fabrics damage.The reinforcing mechanism revealed that the introduced IT-MNASF could construct quasi-vertical fiber bridging,and it was used as"mechanical claws"to grasp adjacent fiber layers for creating a stronger mechanical interlocking,and this effectively improved resin-rich region and interfacial transition region at the interlayers.The simple and effective IT-MNASF interleaving technique was very successful in low-cost and high-strength development of BCFRP heterogeneous composites.

Study of damage behavior and repair effectiveness of patch repaired carbon fiber laminate under quasi-static indentation loading

Damage caused due to low-velocity impacts in composites leads to substantial deterioration in their residual strength and eventually provokes structural failure.This work presents an experimental investigation on the effects of different patch and parent laminate stacking sequences on the enhancement of impact strength of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers(CFRP)composites by utilising the adhesively bonded external patch repair technique.Damage evolution study is also performed with the aid of Acoustic Emission(AE).Two different quasi-isotropic configurations were selected for the parent laminate,viz.,[45°/45°/0°/0°]s and[45°/0°/45°/0°]s.Quasi Static Indentation(QSI)test was performed on both the pristine laminates,and damage areas were detected by using the C-scan inspection technique.Damaged laminates were repaired by using a single-sided patch of two different configurations,viz.,[45°/45°/45°/45°]and[45°/0°/0°/45°],and employing a circular plug to fill the damaged hole.Four different combinations of repaired laminates with two configurations of each parent and patch laminate were produced,which were further subjected to the QSI test.The results reveal the effectiveness of the repair method,as all the repaired laminates show higher impact resistance compared to the respective pristine laminates.Patches of[45°/0°/0°/45°]configuration when repaired by taking[45°/45°/0°/0°]s and[45°/0°/45°/0°]s as parents exhibited 68%and 73%higher peak loads,respectively,than the respective pristine laminates.Furthermore,parent and patch of configuration[45°/0°/45°/0°]s and[45°/0°/0°/45°],respectively,attain the highest peak load,whereas[45°/45°/0°/0°]s and[45°/45°/45°/45°]combinations possess the most gradual decrease in the load.