Hybridization of carbon fiber composites with graphene nanoplatelets to enhance interfacial bonding and thermomechanical properties for shape memory applications. Issue 2 (22nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tiwari, Nilesh; Shaikh, A. A.
• Is Part Of: Polymer-plastics technology and materials. Volume 61:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 161
• Page End: 175
• Publication Date: 2022-01-22
• Subjects: Shape memory hybrid composites -- carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites -- interfacial morphology -- multiscale modeling -- dynamic mechanical analysis -- tensile failure; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Plastics -- Periodicals; Plastics; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; 668
• DOI: Https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/25740881.2021.1967390
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2574-0881

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Shape memory polymer composite (SMPC) exhibits the remarkable mechanical properties as compared to its corresponding shape memory polymer (SMP) without compromising the shape memory behavior. The enhancement of the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the carbon fiber-reinforced SMPC is presented in the present study with the incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) in the SMP matrix. The fabrication process involved the preparation of the GnP/epoxy nanocomposites through ultrasonication and shear mixing and the subsequent molding of the carbon fiber-reinforced hybrid polymer composites by hand layup technique. The mechanical and thermomechanical characterizations were conducted as per the ASTM standards, which were followed with corresponding morphological study to the explore the microscale behavior of the hybrid composites. Shape memory behavior were studied in terms of the shape recovery ( R r ) and shape fixity ( R f ) through the heat activation bending tests. The tensile strength of the hybrid composites with 0.4 and 0.6 wt% GnP content increased by 14.3% and 32.2%, respectively, as compared to unmodified SMPC. Similar trends were also indicated in the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) with the corresponding rise in the storage modulus and glass transition temperature due to incorporation of nanofillers. The improvement of the interfacial bonding between the fiber and matrix and wettability of carbon fiber supported these improvements. Negligible adverse effect was noticed in the shape memory behavior of the hybrid composites with the incorporation of GnP, which displayed the R r and R f of ~97% and 96%, respectively.