Effect of the interfacial nanostructure on the interlaminar fracture toughness and damage mechanisms of directly bonded carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics and aluminum

• Published in: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing Vol. 139; p. 106101
• Main Authors: Ota, Hiroki, Jespersen, Kristine Munk, Saito, Kei, Wada, Keita, Okamoto, Kazuki, Hosoi, Atsushi, Kawada, Hiroyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2020
• Subjects: A. Nano-structures; A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); B. Fracture toughness; E. Joints/joining; A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); A. Nano-structures; B. Fracture toughness; E. Joints/joining
• ISSN: 1359-835X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2020.106101

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) are becoming of interest to mass production industries. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the direct bonding technique to join an aluminum alloy and a CFRTP laminate by fabricating a nanostructure on the aluminum alloy surface. The effect of the nanostructure on the fracture toughness and the damage mechanisms were investigated. The nanostructure improved the fracture toughness by about 2.6 times compared with that without the nanostructure. From observations of the fracture surface, ductile failure of the matrix owing to the nanostructure occurred, suggesting that plastic deformation improved the fracture toughness. From X-ray computed tomography observations, intralaminar failure caused by the nanostructure occurred, which appeared to be a factor for the improved fracture toughness.