Epoxy resin reinforced with carbon fibers and muti-walled carbon nanotube buckypaper: processing and mechanical characterization of mutifunctional composites

• Grant number: 15/24825-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Edson Cocchieri Botelho
• Grantee: Maria Amélia Rocha da Cunha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTS) has presented great impact on science, since it represented hope for improving materials used in several fields. Studies indicate that CNTs exhibit high mechanical resistance, which, coupled with its low density, provides excellent strength / weight relation that is very interesting for structural applications. Polymeric matrice thermoset composites reinforced with carbon fibers are already widely used in mechanical / aerospace field, but have some characteristics that need to be improved, such as: mechanical strength; better thermal and electrical properties; reinforcement capable of being twisted or bent without breaking the particles and capacity to return to its initial state when the stress is removed. The buck papers, macroscopic aggregates CNT's, are the bet for these improvements. Reinforcement of these composites with buck papers may provide the material multifunctional features. This project aims to analyze the mechanical properties of the composite consisted of epoxy resin matrix reinforced with carbon fibers and buck papers, thus evaluating the influence of nanostructured reinforcement in the composite. First, the composite will be processed and its structure will be evaluated by ultrasound and microscopy. After that, the mechanical tests ILSS (interlaminar shear) and ENF (fracture mechanics) for mechanical characterization of the material will be realized.