• Composites Research
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.178-185
• /
• 2012

One of a unique technique in manipulating a multifunctional composite is demonstrated in this study. An electric field is applied to a liquid suspension in order to align the inclusions along with the direction electric field. This is called FAiMTa(Field Aided Micro Tailoring). It makes orthotropic polymer composites by arranging the micro and/or nano size particle inclusions in chain-line formation. Several kinds of particles such as $Al_2O_3$, graphite, CNT(Carbon Nano Tube), W(Tungsten) are tested to verify the effectiveness of the FAiMTa. The particles redistributed in an epoxy suspension and their coupons show that mechanical and thermal properties of orthotropic and random composites containing those particles depend on the trend of particles' alignment. The micro-images of the functional composite from FAiMTa have been captures and their physical properties demonstrate their wide-range and state-of-the-art application for advanced multifunctional composites.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.355-362
• /
• 2013

Carbon particle based nanocomposites have been studied. Nanocomposites containing CNT and graphite particles were manipulated by aligning the micro/nano-size particles with electric field. Electric field is applied to the suspension of epoxy matrix and particulate inclusions in order to align them along the direction of the electric field. Particles aligned in a uniform direction act as a fiber in a CFRP composite. The mechanical strength and physical characteristics highly depend on particles' distribution pattern and amount. In this study, the characteristics of radioactive barrier are emphasized, which has been rarely discussed in the literature. A number of sample coupons were tested to verify their performance. The procedure of manufacturing nanocomposites by means of extremely small size particle alignment is presented in sequence. Several physical and structural performances of composites containing aligned and randomly distributed particles were compared. The results show particle alignment is very effective to enhance directional strength and radioactive barrier performance.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.305-313
• /
• 2023

This study is aimed to investigate the electrically conductive properties of epoxy nanocomposites exposed to an acidic environment under various mechanical loads. For simultaneous assessment of the acidic environment and mechanical load on the electrical conductivity of the samples, the samples with and without carbon nanotubes were exposed to the acidic environment under three different loading conditions for 20 days. Then, the aged samples' strength and flexural stiffness degradation under crude oil and bending stress were measured using a three-point flexural test. The aged samples in the acidic environment and under 80 percent of their intact ultimate strength revealed a 9% and 26% reduction of their electrical conductivity for samples with and without CNTs, respectively. The presence of nanoparticles declined flexural stiffness by about 16.39%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the specimen were used to evaluate the dispersion quality of CNTs. The results of this study can be exploited in constructing conductive composite electrodes to be used in petroleum environments such as crude oil electrostatic tanks.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.261-271
• /
• 2023

The present study follows three main goals. First, an analytical solution with high accuracy is developed to assess the effects of embedding pre-strained shape memory alloy (SMA) wires on the critical buckling temperatures of rectangular sandwich plates made of soft core and graphite fiber/epoxy (GF/EP) face sheets based on piecewise low-order shear deformation theory (PLSDT) using Brinson's model. As the second goal, this study compares the effects of SMAs on the thermal buckling of sandwich plates with those of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The glass transition temperature is considered as a limiting factor. For each material, the effective ranges of operating temperature and thickness ratio are determined for real situations. The results indicate that depending on the geometric parameters and thermal conditions, one of the SMAs and CNTs may outperform the other. The third purpose is to study the thermal buckling of sandwich plates with advanced hybrid SMA/CNT/GF/EP composite face sheets. It is shown that in some circumstances, the co-incorporation of SMAs and CNTs leads to an astonishing enhancement in the critical buckling temperatures of sandwich plates.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.76 no.2
• /
• pp.175-191
• /
• 2020

In this study, the effect of Nano silica (SiO2) on the buckling strength of the glass fiber reinforced laminates containing the machining process causes holes were investigated. The tests have been applied on two status milled and non-milled. To promote the mechanical behavior of the fiber-reinforced glass epoxy-based composites, Nano sio2 was added to the matrix to improve and gradation. Nano sio2 is chosen because of flexibility and high mechanical features; the effect of Nanoparticles on surface serenity has been studied. Thus the effect of Nanoparticles on crack growth and machining process and delamination caused by machining has been studied. We can also imply that many machining factors are essential: feed rate, thrust force, and spindle speed. Also, feed rate and spindle speed were studied in constant values, that the thrust forces were studied as the main factor caused residual stress. Moreover, entrance forces were measured by local calibrated load cells on machining devices. The results showed that the buckling load of milled laminates had been increased by about 50% with adding 2 wt% of silica in comparison with the neat damaged laminates while adding more contents caused adverse effects. Also, with a comparison of two milling tools, the cylindrical radius-end tool had less destructive effects on specimens.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 2010

The improvement of electrical conductivity of carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) has been investigated by silver nano-particles coating for the purpose of lightning strike protection. Silver nano-particles in colloid were sprayed on the surface of carbon fibers, which were then impregnated by epoxy resin to form a CFRP specimen. Electrical resistance was measured by contact resistance meter which utilize the principles of the AC 4-terminal method. Electrical resistance value was then converted to electrical conductivity. The coated silver nano-particles on the carbon fibers were verified by SEM and EDS. The electrical conductivity was increased by three times of the ordinary CFRP.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.86-91
• /
• 2021

In order to save the energy in vehicles using renewable energy, it is necessary to reduce the weight of parts with polymer matrix composites. Carbon nanotube (CNT) is the nano-scale reinforcement used to increase the interlaminar strength of fiber reinforced composites or enhance the fracture toughness of polymer. However, since the degree of improvement in mechanical properties varies according to the various experimental conditions such as shape of reinforcement, types of matrix and dispersion of reinforcement, research to find the optimal conditions is essentially needed. In this study, CNT/epoxy composites with different CNT concentration were fabricated under the same conditions, and the optimal CNT content (2 wt%) was found through Mode 1 fracture toughness test. Furthermore, through optical microscopy, it was confirmed that the fracture toughness was rather decreased due to the CNT aggregation when the CNT content exceeded 2 wt%.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.443-450
• /
• 2023

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received increased interest in reinforcing research for polymer matrix composites due to their exceptional mechanical characteristics. Its high surface area/volume ratio and aspect ratio enable polymer-based composites to make the most of its features. This study focuses on the experimental tensile testing and fabrication of carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) beams, exploring various micromechanical models. By examining the performance of these models alongside experimental results, the research aims to better understand and optimize the mechanical properties of CNTRC materials. Tensile properties of neat epoxy and 0.3%; 0.4% and 0.5% by CNT reinforced laminated single layer (0°/90°) carbon fiber composite beams were investigated. The composite plates were produced in accordance with ASTM D7264 standard. The tensile test was performed in order to see the mechanical properties of the composite beams. The results showed that the optimum amount of CNT was 0.3% based on the tensile capacity. The capacity was significantly reduced when 0.4% CNT was utilized. Moreover, the experimental results are compared with Finite Element Models using ABAQUS. Hashin Failure Criteria was utilized to predict the tensile capacity. Good conformance was observed between experimental and numerical models. More importantly is that Young' Moduli of the specimens is compared with the prediction Halpin-Tsai and Mixture-Rule. Although Halpin-Tsai can accurately predict the Young's Moduli of the specimens, the accuracy of Mixture-Rule was significantly low.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.264-268
• /
• 2021

In this study, we propose a method for fabricating hydrophobic coatings/films with three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical nanostructured organic/inorganic composite surfaces. An epoxy-based, large-area 3D ordered nanoporous template is first prepared through an advanced photolithography technique called Proximity-field nanoPatterning (PnP). Then, a hierarchically structured surface is generated by densely impregnating the template with silica nanoparticles with an average diameter of 22 nm through dip coating. Due to the coexisting micro- and nano-scale roughness on the surface, the fabricated composite film exhibits a higher contact angle (>137 degrees) for water droplets compared to the reference samples. Therefore, it is expected that the materials and processes developed through this study can be used in various ways in the traditional coating/film field.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.3-8
• /
• 2008

Self-sensing was evaluated for carbon nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites with two different aspect ratios via electro-micromechanical technique and wettability test. Volumetric electrical resistance was measured to evaluate the comparative dispersion degree indirectly and it decreased due to the increase of electric contacts with increasing CNF concentration. The dispersion degree was evaluated indirectly by calculating coefficient of variation (COV) of volumetric electrical resistance. The CNF type A with a high aspect ratio showed better self-sensing than the case of CNF type B with a short aspect ratio. The CNF type B/epoxy composite showed little self-sensing at a concentration higher than 2 vol% probably due to poor dispersion. The apparent modulus of CNF type B was higher than that of CNF type A due to the orientation effect and the high surface area. The thermodynamic work of adhesion was consistent with the result of apparent modulus.