TY - JOUR
T1 - Polydopamine as sizing on carbon fiber surfaces for enhancement of epoxy laminated composites
AU - Han, Wei
AU - Zhang, Hongping
AU - Tavakoli, Javad
AU - Campbell, Jonathan
AU - Tang, Youhong
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate normally has plastic dominant crack propagation behavior, inducing potential insecurity in the safety and reliability of structures in practical applications. In this study, we report a simple process to increase the stability of crack growth by using polydopamine (PDA) as sizing on the surface of carbon fiber (CF) fabric. The crack propagation behavior changes from a saw-tooth-shaped curve in neat CFRP laminate to a relatively smooth trending curve in PDA coated CFRP laminate with increased Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness. Enhanced impact strength and interlaminar shear strength of PDA coated CFRP laminates is also observed. A single fiber pull-out experiment and morphological study reveal that, with PDA coating on CF fabrics, cracks tend to fracture through the epoxy matrix rather than between fiber and matrix interfaces. The use of PDA as sizing on the CF contributes to improving the load transfer between the CF and the polymer matrix by enhancing the interfaces between the epoxy and the CF, increasing the friction of the fractured interface, reducing unstable crack growth, and thereby enhancing interfacial fracture toughness and impact performance.
AB - Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate normally has plastic dominant crack propagation behavior, inducing potential insecurity in the safety and reliability of structures in practical applications. In this study, we report a simple process to increase the stability of crack growth by using polydopamine (PDA) as sizing on the surface of carbon fiber (CF) fabric. The crack propagation behavior changes from a saw-tooth-shaped curve in neat CFRP laminate to a relatively smooth trending curve in PDA coated CFRP laminate with increased Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness. Enhanced impact strength and interlaminar shear strength of PDA coated CFRP laminates is also observed. A single fiber pull-out experiment and morphological study reveal that, with PDA coating on CF fabrics, cracks tend to fracture through the epoxy matrix rather than between fiber and matrix interfaces. The use of PDA as sizing on the CF contributes to improving the load transfer between the CF and the polymer matrix by enhancing the interfaces between the epoxy and the CF, increasing the friction of the fractured interface, reducing unstable crack growth, and thereby enhancing interfacial fracture toughness and impact performance.
KW - A. Carbon fibres
KW - B. Delamination
KW - Fibre/matrix bond
KW - Surface properties
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359835X18300435
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041907169&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2018.02.003
DO - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2018.02.003
M3 - Article
VL - 107
SP - 626
EP - 632
JO - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
JF - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
SN - 1359-835X
ER -