TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhanced out of Plane Electrical Conductivity in Polymer Composites Induced by CO2 Laser Irradiation of Carbon Fibers
AU - Karakasidis, Anastasios
AU - Karakassides , Angeliki
AU - Konstantinidou , Michaella
AU - Paipetis , Alkiviadis
AU - Papakonstantinou, P
PY - 2020/5/21
Y1 - 2020/5/21
N2 - The creation of a hierarchical interface between the carbon fiber (CF) and the epoxy resin matrix of fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites has become an effective strategy for introducing multifunctional properties. Although the efficacy of many hierarchical interfaces has been established in lab-scale, their production is not amenable to high-volume, continuous, cost effective fiber production, which is required for the large-scale commercialization of composites. This work investigates the use of commercially available CO2 laser as a means of nano-structuring the surface of carbon fiber (CF) tows in an incessant throughput procedure. Even though the single carbon fiber tensile strength measurements showed a decrease up to 68% for the exposed CFs, the electrical conductivity exhibited an increment up to 18.4%. Furthermore, results on laminates comprised of irradiated unidirectional CF cloth, demonstrated an enhancement in out of plane electrical conductivity up to 43%, while preserved the Mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness of the composite, showing the potential for multifunctionality. This work indicates that the laser-induced graphitization of the CF surface can act as an interface for fast and cost-effective manufacturing of multifunctional CFRP composite materials.
AB - The creation of a hierarchical interface between the carbon fiber (CF) and the epoxy resin matrix of fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites has become an effective strategy for introducing multifunctional properties. Although the efficacy of many hierarchical interfaces has been established in lab-scale, their production is not amenable to high-volume, continuous, cost effective fiber production, which is required for the large-scale commercialization of composites. This work investigates the use of commercially available CO2 laser as a means of nano-structuring the surface of carbon fiber (CF) tows in an incessant throughput procedure. Even though the single carbon fiber tensile strength measurements showed a decrease up to 68% for the exposed CFs, the electrical conductivity exhibited an increment up to 18.4%. Furthermore, results on laminates comprised of irradiated unidirectional CF cloth, demonstrated an enhancement in out of plane electrical conductivity up to 43%, while preserved the Mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness of the composite, showing the potential for multifunctionality. This work indicates that the laser-induced graphitization of the CF surface can act as an interface for fast and cost-effective manufacturing of multifunctional CFRP composite materials.
KW - Carbon fibers (CFs)
KW - Electrical conductivity
KW - Hierarchical structures
KW - Interlaminar fracture toughness
KW - Laser irradiation
KW - Laser modification
KW - Multifunctional fibers
KW - Surface roughening
KW - Tensile strength
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/10/3561
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85085597935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/app10103561
DO - 10.3390/app10103561
M3 - Article
VL - 10
SP - 3561
JO - Applied Sciences
JF - Applied Sciences
SN - 2076-3417
IS - 10
M1 - 3561
ER -