Effect of Graphene Nanowall Size on the Interfacial Strength of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites
Xiao Wang,
Chaolong Li,
Yao Chi,
Mingxing Piao,
Jin Chu,
Heng Zhang,
Zhenghao Li,
Wei Wei
Affiliations
Xiao Wang
Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems, Ministry of Education of China, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Chaolong Li
Key Laboratory of Multi-Scale Manufacturing Technology, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
Yao Chi
Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems, Ministry of Education of China, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Mingxing Piao
Key Laboratory of Multi-Scale Manufacturing Technology, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
Jin Chu
Key Laboratory of Multi-Scale Manufacturing Technology, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
Heng Zhang
Key Laboratory of Multi-Scale Manufacturing Technology, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
Zhenghao Li
Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems, Ministry of Education of China, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Wei Wei
Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems, Ministry of Education of China, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Graphene nanowalls (GNWs) with different sizes (i.e., length and height) were grown directly on the surface of individual carbon fibers (CFs) using a radio frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) technique. The size was controlled by varying the deposition time. The GNW-modified CFs were embedded into epoxy resin matrix to prepare a series of carbon-fiber-reinforced composites (CFRCs). The results indicated that GNWs were remarkably effective in improving the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the carbon-fiber-reinforced composites. The enhancement effect on the strength strongly depended on the size of GNWs. It increased with the increase in the GNWs’ size and reached the maximum upon the incorporation of GNWs that were grown for 45 min. Noticeable increases of 222.8% and 41.1% were observed in IFSS and ILSS, respectively. The enhancement mechanism was revealed by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM) fractography analysis. However, further increase of GNW size led to no more improvement in the shear strength. It could result from the increased defect concentration and wrinkle size in the GNWs, which deteriorated the strength.
