Interfacial adhesion improvement in carbon fiber/carbon nanotube reinforced hybrid composites by the application of a reactive hybrid resin initiated by gamma irradiation

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993) England : 1993), 2018-04, Vol.145, p.111-115
• Main Authors: Szebényi, G., Faragó, D., Lámfalusi, Cs, Göbl, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesion tests; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon fibers; Carbon-epoxy composites; Fiber composites; Fiber reinforced polymers; Gamma irradiation; Gamma rays; Hybrid composites; Hybrid systems; Interfacial shear strength; Interlaminar properties; Load transfer; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposites; Nanotubes; Polymer composite; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Radiation curing; Reinforcing materials; Resins; Shear tests; Vinyl ester resins
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2017.12.018

Interfacial adhesion is a key factor in composite materials. The effective co-working of the reinforcing materials and matrix is essential for the proper load transfer between them, and to achieve the desired reinforcing effect. In case of nanocomposites, especially carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced nanocomposites the adhesion between the CNTs and the polymer matrix is poor. To improve the interfacial adhesion and exploit the reinforcing effect of these nanoparticles a two step curable epoxy (EP)/vinylester (VE) hybrid resin system was developed where the EP is cured using hardener in the first step, during the composite production, and in the second step the curing of the VE is initiated by gamma irradiation, which also activates the reinforcing materials and the cured matrix component. A total of six carbon fiber reinforced composite systems were compared with neat epoxy and EP/VE hybrid matrices with and without chemical initiator and MWCNT nano-reinforcement. The effect of gamma irradiation was investigated at four absorbed dose levels. According to our three point bending and interlaminar shear test results the adhesion has improved between all constituents of the composite system. It was demonstrated that gamma irradiation has beneficial effect on the static mechanical, especially interlaminar properties of both micro- and nanocomposites in terms of modulus, strength and interlaminar shear strength. •A two step curable epoxy/vinylester hybrid resin system initiated by gamma irradiation was developed.•25, 50, 75 and 100kGygamma irradiation successfully initiated the curing of the vinylester resin.•Adhesion has improved between all constituents of the composite system.•Technology is suitable for industrial application.