Giuseppina Barra

Effective formulation and processing of nanofilled carbon fiber reinforced composites

This work describes a successful approach toward the development of a carbon fiber-reinforced composite based on an optimized nanofilled resin for industrial applications. The epoxy matrix is prepared by mixing a tetrafunctional epoxy precursor with a reactive diluent which allows reduction of the viscosity of the epoxy precursor and facilitation of the dispersion of 0.5% wt multiwall carbon nanotubes. The proper choice of the viscosity value and the infusion technique allow improvement of the electrical properties of the panels. The obtained in-plane electrical conductivity is about 20 kS m � 1 , whereas a value of 3.9 S m � 1 is achieved for the out of plane value. Such results confirm that the fibers govern the conduction mechanisms in the direction parallel to the fibers, whereas the percolating path created by the effective distribution of carbon nanotubes achieved by resin formulation and adopted processing approach lead to a significant enhancement of the overall electrical performance of the composites.

Influence of carbon nanoparticles/epoxy matrix interaction on mechanical, electrical and transport properties of structural advanced materials

The focus of this study is to design new nano-modified epoxy formulations using carbon nanofillers, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers and graphene-based nanoparticles (CpEG), that reduce the moisture content and provide additional functional performance. The chemical structure of epoxy mixture, using a non-stoichiometric amount of hardener, exhibits unique properties in regard to the water sorption for which the equilibrium concentration of water (C eq) is reduced up to a maximum of 30%. This result, which is very relevant for several industrial applications (aeronautical, shipbuilding industries, wind turbine blades, etc), is due to a strong reduction of the polar groups and/or sites responsible to bond water molecules. All nanofillers are responsible of a second phase at lower glass transition temperature (Tg). Compared with other carbon nanofillers, functionalized graphene-based nanoparticles exhibit the best performance in the multifunctionality. The lowest moisture content, the high performance in the mechanical properties, the low electrical percolation threshold (EPT) have been all ascribed to particular arrangements of the functionalized graphene sheets embedded in the polymeric matrix. Exfoliation degree and edge carboxylated groups are responsible of self-assembled architectures which entrap part of the resin fraction hindering the interaction of water molecules with the polar sites of the resin, also favouring the EPT paths and the attractive/covalent interactions with the matrix.

Toughening of epoxy adhesives by combined interaction of carbon nanotubes and silsesquioxanes

The extensive use of adhesives in many structural applications in the transport industry and particularly in the aeronautic field is due to numerous advantages of bonded joints. However, still many researchers are working to enhance the mechanical properties and rheological performance of adhesives by using nanoadditives. In this study the effect of the addition of Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) with Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) compounds, either Glycidyl Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (GPOSS) or DodecaPhenyl Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (DPHPOSS) to Tetraglycidyl Methylene Dianiline (TGMDA) epoxy formulation, was investigated. The formulations contain neither a tougher matrix such as elastomers nor other additives typically used to provide a closer match in the coefficient of thermal expansion in order to discriminate only the effect of the addition of the above-mentioned components. Bonded aluminium single lap joints were made using both untreated and Chromic Acid Anodisation (CAA)-treated aluminium alloy T2024 adherends. The effects of the different chemical functionalities of POSS compounds, as well as the synergistic effect between the MWCNT and POSS combination on adhesion strength, were evaluated by viscosity measurement, tensile tests, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), single lap joint shear strength tests, and morphological investigation. The best performance in the Lap Shear Strength (LSS) of the manufactured joints has been found for treated adherends bonded with epoxy adhesive containing MWCNTs and GPOSS. Carbon nanotubes have been found to play a very effective bridging function across the fracture surface of the bonded joints.

Transport properties of dichloromethane in polymeric blends Part I Low density polyethylene-isotactic polypropylene

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and either isotactic polypropilene (IPP) or a copolymer of isotactic polypropilene with 3% of ethylene (CPP) were blended, and analyzed with X-rays, differential thermal calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and transport properties of dichloromethane vapour at different activities. The results show that polyethylene and polypropylene crystallize in different domains in the usual crystalline forms (orthorhombic and monoclinic respectively). Also the amorphous phases are not miscible; moreover in the blend LDPE-IPP, in which PE crystallize less, the transport of the vapours occurs mainly through polyethylene, whereas the opposite is true in the blend LDPE-CPP, in which polypropylene crystallizes less. The sorption properties are in agreement with the additivity of sorption of the two amorphous phases.

Development of multifunctional carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRCs) - Manufacturing process

This work describes a successful attempt toward the development of CFRCs based on nanofilled epoxy resins. The epoxy matrix was prepared by mixing a tetrafunctional epoxy precursor with a reactive diluent which allows to reduce the viscosity of the initial epoxy precursor and facilitate the nanofiller dispersion step. As nanofiller, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were embedded in the epoxy matrix with the aim of improving the electrical properties of the resin used to manufacture CFRCs. Panels were manufactured by Resin Film Infusion (RFI) using a non-usual technique to infuse a nano-filled resin into a carbon fiber dry preform.

Nano-Charged Polypropylene Application: Realistic Perspectives for Enhancing Durability

Isotactic polypropylene/multi-walled carbon nanotube (iPP/MWCNTs) films have been exposed to accelerated weathering in a UV device for increasing times. The effect of UV irradiation on the structural and chemical changes has been investigated. The resistance to accelerated photooxidation of (iPP/MWCNTs) films has been compared to the photooxidation behaviour of unfilled polypropylene films with the same structural organization. The chemical and structural modifications resulting from photooxidation have been followed using infrared spectroscopy, calorimetric and diffractometric analysis. MWCNTs embedded in the polymeric matrix are able to strongly contrast the degradation mechanisms and the structural and morphological rearrangements caused by the UV treatment on the unfilled polymer. MWCNTs determine an induction period (IP) before the increase of the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups. The extent of the IP is strictly correlated to the amount of MWCNTs. The low electrical percolation threshold (EPT) and the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites, together with their excellent thermal and photooxidative stability, make them promising candidates to fulfill many industrial requirements.

Electrical conductivity of carbon nanofiber reinforced resins: Potentiality of Tunneling Atomic Force Microscopy (TUNA) technique

Abstract Epoxy nanocomposites able to meet pressing industrial requirements in the field of structural material have been developed and characterized. Tunneling Atomic Force Microscopy (TUNA), which is able to detect ultra-low currents ranging from 80 fA to 120 pA, was used to correlate the local topography with electrical properties of tetraglycidyl methylene dianiline (TGMDA) epoxy nanocomposites at low concentration of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) ranging from 0.05% up to 2% by wt. The results show the unique capability of TUNA technique in identifying conductive pathways in CNF/resins even without modifying the morphology with usual treatments employed to create electrical contacts to the ground.

The influence of different dispersion methods on the size of the aggregate of CNTs in epoxy resin for the manufacturing of carbon fiber reinforced composites

Different industrial mixing methods and some of their combinations (1) ultrasound; (2) stirring; (3) (4) by roller machine, (5) by gears machine (6) Ultrasound radiation + high stirring were investigated for incorporating Multi walled Carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into a resin based on an aeronautical epoxy precursor, cured with 4,4′ diamine-dibenzylsulfone (DDS). The effect of different parameters, ultrasound intensity, number of cycles, type of blade, gears speed on the nanofiller dispersion were analyzed. The inclusion of the nanofiller in the resin causes a drastic increase in the viscosity, preventing the homogenization of the resin and a drastic increase in temperature in the zones closest to the ultrasound probe. To overcome these challenges, the application of high speed agitation simultaneously with the application of ultrasonic radiation was used. This allows on the one hand a homogeneous dispersion, on the other hand an improvement of the dissipation of heat generated by ultrasonic radiation. A comprehensive study with parameters like viscosity and temperature was performed. It is necessary a balance between viscosity and temperature. Viscosity must be low enough to facilitate the dispersion and homogenization of the nanofillers, whereas the temperature cannot be too high because of re-agglomerations

Enhanced electrical properties of carbon fiber reinforced composites obtained by an effective infusion process

Carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRCs) panels were manufactured with a Resin Film Infusion (RFI) approach by mixing a tetrafunctional epoxy precursor with a reactive diluent which allows to reduce the viscosity of the matrix and facilitate the dispersion in it of 0.5 wt.% multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The proper choice of the viscosity value and the infusion technique allows to obtain high electrical conductivity of panels composed by 7 plies of carbon fiber (crossing at 90°) cloths. The anisotropic electrical behavior is characterized by two in-plane electrical conductivities of 11.34 kS/m (in the direction parallel to the fibers) and 9.57 kS/m (at 45° with respect to the fibers), whereas a value of 1.75 S/m was achieved for the out of plane (through the thickness) value. The DC measurements confirm that the fibers govern the conduction mechanisms in the in-plane direction, whereas the percolating path created by the effective distribution of MWCNTs, favoured by resin formulation and adopted processing approach, leads to a significant enhancement of the overall electrical performance of the CFRCs.

Piezoresistive strain sensing of carbon nanotubes-based composite skin for aeronautical morphing structures

Nowadays, smart composites based on different nano-scale carbon fillers, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are increasingly being thought of as a more possible alternative solution to conventional smart materials, mainly for their improved electrical properties. Great attention is being given by the research community in designing highly sensitive strain sensors for more and more ambitious challenges: in such context, interest fields related to carbon nanotubes have seen extraordinary development in recent years. The authors aim to provide the most contemporary overview possible of carbon nanotube-based strain sensors for aeronautical application. A smart structure as a morphing wing needs an embedded sensing system in order to measure the actual deformation state as well as to “monitor” the structural conditions. Looking at more innovative health monitoring tools for the next generation of composite structures, a resin strain sensor has been realized. The epoxy resin was first analysed by means of a micro-tension test, estimating the electrical resistance variations as function of the load, in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the sensor. The epoxy dogbone specimen has been equipped with a standard strain gauge to quantify its strain sensitivity. The voltamperometric tests highlight a good linearity of the electrical resistance value as the load increases at least in the region of elastic deformation of the material. Such intrinsic piezoresistive performance is essentially attributable to the re-arrangement of conductive percolating network formed by MWCNT, induced by the deformation of the material due to the applied loads. The specimen has been prepared within this investigation, to demonstrate its performance for a future composite laminate typical of aerospace structures. The future carbon-fiber sensor can replace conventional metal foil strain gauges in aerospace applications. Furthermore, dynamic tests will be carried out to detect any non-reversible changes to the sensing response.