• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

In order to increase the electrical conductivity and the mechanical properties of carbon fabric composites, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were deposited on carbon fabrics by anodic and cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) processes. In the cathodic EPD, carbon nano-particles and nano-sized Cu particles were simultaneously deposited on the carbon fabric, which gave a synergetic effect on the enhancement of properties as well as the degree of deposition. The hybridization of carbon nano-particles and micron-sized carbon fiber significantly improved the through-the-thickness electrical conductivity. In addition, both MWCNTs and CNFs were deposited onto the carbon fabric for multi-scale hybrid composites. Multi-scale deposition improved the through-the-thickness electrical conductivity, compared to the deposition of either MWCNTs or CNFs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.517-527
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• 2019

To move forward in large steps rather than in small increments, the community would benefit from a systematic and comprehensive database of multi-scale composites and measured properties, driven by comprehensive studies with a full range of types of fiber-reinforced polymers. The multi-scale hierarchy is a promising chemical approach that provides superior performance in synergistically integrated microstructured fibers and nanostructured materials in composite applications. Achieving high-efficiency thermal conductivity and mechanical properties with a simple surface treatment on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is important for multi-scale composites. The main purpose of the project is to introduce ozone-treated SWCNTs between an epoxy matrix and basalt fibers to improve mechanical properties and thermal conductivity by enhancing dispersion and interfacial adhesion. The obvious advantage of this approach is that it is much more effective than the conventional approach at improving the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of materials under an equivalent load, and shows particularly significant improvement for high loads. Such an effort could accelerate the conversion of multi-scale composites into high performance materials and provide more rational guidance and fundamental understanding towards realizing the theoretical limits of thermal and mechanical properties.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.339-355
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• 2022

The high cost of ultra-high-performance engineered cementitious composite (UHP-ECC) is currently a crucial issue, especially in terms of the polyethylene (PE) fibers use. In this paper, cheap calcium carbonate whiskers (CW) were evaluated on the feasibility of hybrid with PE fibers. Diverse combinations of PE fibers and CW were employed to investigate the multi-scale enhancement on the UHP-ECC performance. A probabilistic-based UHP-ECC tensile strain reliability analysis approach was utilized, which was in general agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, a multi-dimensional integrated representation was conducted for the comprehensive assessment of UHP-ECC. Results illustrated that CW improved the compressive strength and energy dissipation capacity of UHP-ECC owing to the microscopic strengthening mechanism. CW and PE fiber further promoted the saturated cracking of composite by multi-scale crack arresting effect. In particular, PE1.75-CW0.5 specimen possessed the best overall performance. The ultimate cracking width of PE1.75-CW0.5 group had 98 ㎛, which was 46.18% lower compared to PE2-CW0 group, the 28d compressive strength were slightly improved, the tensile strain capacity was comparable to that of PE2-CW0 group. The results above demonstrated that combinations of PE fiber and CW could significantly enhance the comprehensive performance of UHP-ECC, which was beneficial for large-scale engineering applications.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2022

This paper proposes a multiscale process-structural analysis methodology and applies to a battery housing part made of the short fiber-reinforced and fabric-reinforced composite layers. In particular, uncertainties of the material properties within the microscale representative volume element (RVE) were considered. The random spatial distribution of matrix properties in the microscale RVE was realized by the Karhunen-Loeve Expansion (KLE) method. Then, effective properties of the RVE reflecting on spatially varying matrix properties were obtained by the computational homogenization and mapped to a macroscale FE (finite element) model. Morever, through the hybrid process simulation, a FE (finite element) model mapping residual stress and fiber orientation from compression molding simulation is combined with one mapping fiber orientation from the draping process simulation. The proposed method is expected to rigorously evaluate the design requirements of the battery housing part and composite materials having various material configurations.