Evaluation of the influence of graphene on the degradation and aging of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite

• Grant number: 20/00413-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2020
• End date: June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Edson Cocchieri Botelho
• Grantee: Mariana Baldini Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil

Abstract

More and more composites composed of polymeric matrix have been studied and developed aiming at several applications in the industry, mainly in the aerospace sector. Among these, there are thermoplastic polymer matrix composites that stand out due to their properties as low density, high mechanical resistance, besides the possibility of recycling. Poly (ether-imide) - PEI is an example of this type of polymer, with high rigidity and mechanical strength and glass transition temperature around 217 ° C. The addition of nanoparticles to obtain nanostructured composites aims to improve the properties of the final composite, as nanoparticles often have excellent physical attributes that allow for a wide variety of applications. Graphene, for example, one of the most studied nanoparticles today, is the crystalline form of carbon that has qualities such as good heat and electricity conductivity. The present work aims to evaluate the influence of the addition of graphene (at concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% by mass) on the thermal properties of the PEI / carbon fiber composite that will be processed using the compression molding technique. Therefore, specifically evaluating the degradation kinetics through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and composite aging by the TTS (Time-Temperature Superposition) method to be performed via dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA). Finally, the quality of the obtained composite will be analyzed by acid digestion, ultrasound and optical microscopy. This work is associated with FAPESP regular project no. 2017 / 16970-0, coordinated by the advisor of this proposal.