Effects of Water Absorption on the Fiber–Matrix Interfacial Shear Strength of Carbon Nanotube-Grafted Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyamide Resin

• Published in: Journal of composites science Vol. 3; no. 1; p. 4
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Kazuto, Okuda, Saya, Hinoue, Yoshitaka, Katayama, Tsutao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon fiber reinforcement; Carbon nanotubes; Chemical vapor deposition; Composite materials; Ethanol; Fiber pullout; Fiber reinforced polymers; Fiber-matrix interfaces; Grafting; Interfacial properties; Interfacial shear strength; Mechanical properties; Polyamide resins; Pull out tests; Recyclability; Reinforcing fibers; Shear strength; Stiffness; Tensile strength; Thermoplastic resins; Water absorption; Japan
• DOI: 10.3390/jcs3010004
• ISSN: 2504-477X

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) are expected to be used for the structural parts of automobiles and aircraft due to their mechanical properties, such as high specific stiffness, high specific strength, short molding times and high recyclability. The fiber/matrix interface of the composite plays an important role in transmitting stress from the matrix to the reinforcing fibers. It was reported that grafting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the carbon fiber can improve the fiber/matrix interfacial property. We have reported that CNTs, which are directly grafted onto carbon fiber using Ni as the catalyst by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, can improve the fiber/matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of carbon fiber/polyamide 6 (PA6). For practical use of CFRTPs, it is important to clarify the effects of water absorption on the mechanical properties of the composite material. In this study, the effects of water absorption on the fiber–matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide resin and CNT-grafted carbon fiber reinforced polyamide resin were clarified by the single fiber pull-out test for specimens preserved in air, then in water for 24 h and re-dried after water absorption. The IFSS of carbon fiber/PA6 was significantly decreased by water absorption. In contrast, CNT-grafted carbon fiber/PA6 showed smaller degradation of the IFSS by water absorption.