Effect of CNT Grafting on Carbon Fibers on Impact Properties of CFRTP Laminate

Abstract

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP) are expected to be used as a structural material for aircraft and automobiles not only for their mechanical properties such as high specific strength and high specific rigidity but also for their high recyclability and short molding time. Generally, in a composite material having a laminated structure, interlaminar delamination is often caused by an out-of-plane impact, so the interlayer property plays an important role in the mechanical properties. It has been reported that the fiber/matrix interfacial strength increases by grafting carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the carbon fiber surface. In this study, CNT grafted carbon fibers were used for reinforcement of CFRTP laminate for the improvement of impact properties of CFRTP laminates. The impact absorbed energy of the CFRTP laminate using CNT grafted carbon fibers as reinforcing fiber was higher than that using untreated CF.