• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2013

The strength of adhesive joints employed in composite structures under cryogenic environments, such as LNG tanks, is affected by thermal residual stress generated from the large temperature difference between the bonding process and the operating temperature. Aramid fibers are noted for their low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and have been used to control the CTE of thermosetting resins. However, aramid composites exhibit poor adhesion between the fibers and the resin because the aramid fibers are chemically inert and contain insufficient functional groups. In this work, electrospun meta-aramid nanofiber-reinforced epoxy adhesive was fabricated to improve the interfacial bonding between the adhesive and the fibers under cryogenic temperatures. The CTE of the nanofiber-reinforced adhesives were measured, and the effect on the adhesion strength was investigated at single-lap joints under cryogenic temperatures. The fracture toughness of the adhesive joints was measured using a Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) test.