Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III

A special issue of Journal of Composites Science (ISSN 2504-477X). This special issue belongs to the section "Carbon Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 7091

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
Interests: energy; polymers; fibers; biomaterials; low-dimensional materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many efforts have been made to create light-weight materials that maintain excellent physical and chemical properties, aiming at energy savings and property enhancement for aerospace, automotive, marine, and industrial applications over the past few decades. Among them, carbon fibers and their composites have attracted significant attention because of their unique properties, including high strength and modulus, novel dimensional stability, high surface area/volume ratios, low coefficient of thermal expansion, etc. Therefore, they have been widely applied in fields of energy storage, filtration, aircraft, etc., via advanced manufacturing technologies (i.e., wet/melt spinning, solution casting, 3D printing, etc.).

Processing–structure–property relationships of carbon fibers and their composites are crucial for their future applications in the fields of energy, engineering, and the environment. Various precursors and processing approaches have been studied to prepare carbon fibers and composites with specific structures to achieve excellent multifunctional properties, consisting of better mechanical, thermal, electrical, and barrier properties. However, to date, lowering the manufacturing cost and expanding their applications remain challenging.

The main aim of this Special Issue is to tackle the points mentioned above for the preparation, characterization, and properties of advanced carbon fibers and their composites to offer an insight into them, facilitating their practical applications in various fields.

Dr. Jiadeng Zhu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Composites Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • carbon fibers
  • carbon nanofibers
  • composites
  • filtration
  • energy
  • environment

Published Papers (8 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 7182 KiB  
Article
Effect of Chitin Nanocrystal Deacetylation on a Nature-Mimicking Interface in Carbon Fiber Composites
by Abdellatif M. Abdel-Mohsen, Rasha M. Abdel-Rahman, Lukáš Kalina, Vishakha Vishakha, Ludmila Kaprálková, Pavel Němeček, Josef Jančář and Ivan Kelnar
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(5), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8050163 - 26 Apr 2024
Viewed by 361
Abstract
The formation of a rigid, tough interface based on a nacre-like structure in carbon fiber (CF) composites is a promising way to eliminate low delamination resistance. An effective method of coating CFs is electrophoretic deposition (EPD), which, in the case of dissimilar components [...] Read more.
The formation of a rigid, tough interface based on a nacre-like structure in carbon fiber (CF) composites is a promising way to eliminate low delamination resistance. An effective method of coating CFs is electrophoretic deposition (EPD), which, in the case of dissimilar components like graphene oxide (GO) and polymeric glue, usually requires chemical bonding/strong interactions. In this work, we focus on chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs), leading to an excellent mechanical performance of artificial nacre, where favorable interactions and bonding with GO are controlled by degrees of deacetylation (5, 15, and 30%). We prepared coatings based on GO/ChNC adducts with 95/5, 90/10, 50/50, and 25/75 ratios using optimized EPD conditions (pH, concentration, voltage, and time). The prepared materials were characterized using FTIR, TEM, XPS, SEM, DLS, and XRD. SEM evaluation indicates the formation of a homogeneous interlayer, which has a fair potential for chemical bonding with the epoxy matrix. Short-beam testing of epoxy matrix composites indicates that the coating does not decrease stiffness and has a relatively low dependence on composition. Therefore, all coatings are promising for a detailed study of delamination resistance using laminate samples. Moreover, facile EPD from the water solution/suspension has a fair potential for industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 10308 KiB  
Article
Determination of the In-Plane Shear Behavior of and Process Influence on Uncured Unidirectional CF/Epoxy Prepreg Using Digital Image Correlation Analysis
by Hongfu Li, Haoxuan Zhang, Guangquan Yue, Boyu Guo and Ying Wu
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(4), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8040133 - 05 Apr 2024
Viewed by 487
Abstract
The investigation of the in-plane shear behavior of prepreg is crucial for understanding the generation of wrinkles of preforms in advanced composite manufacturing processes, such as automated fiber placement and thermoforming. Despite this significance, there is currently no standardized test method for characterizing [...] Read more.
The investigation of the in-plane shear behavior of prepreg is crucial for understanding the generation of wrinkles of preforms in advanced composite manufacturing processes, such as automated fiber placement and thermoforming. Despite this significance, there is currently no standardized test method for characterizing uncured unidirectional (UD) prepreg. This paper introduces a ±45° off-axis tensile test designed to assess the in-plane shear behavior of UD carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy prepreg (CF/epoxy). Digital image correlation (DIC) was employed to quantitatively track the strains in three dimensions and the shear angle evolution during the stretching process. The influences of the temperature and stretching rate on the in-plane shear behavior of the prepreg were further investigated. The results reveal that four shear characteristic zones and wrinkling behaviors are clearly distinguished. The actual in-plane shear angle is significantly lower than the theoretical value due to fiber constraints from both the in-plane and out-of-plane aspects. When the off-axis tensile displacement (d) is less than 15.6 mm, the ±45° specimens primarily exhibit macroscale in-plane shear behavior, induced by interlaminar interface shear between the +45° ply and −45° ply at the mesoscale. The shear angle increases linearly with the d. However, when d > 15.6 mm, fiber squeezing and wrinkling begin to occur. When d > 29 mm, the in-plane shear disappears in the completely sheared zone (A). The reduction in the resin viscosity of the CF/epoxy prepreg caused by increased temperature is identified as the primary factor in lowering the in-plane shear force resistance, followed by the effect of the increasing resin curing degree. Higher shear rates can lead to a substantial increase in shear forces, eventually causing cracking failure in the prepreg. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of the test method for predicting and extracting uncured prepreg in-plane shear behaviors and the strain-rate and temperature dependency of the material response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3938 KiB  
Article
Surface Quality Related to Face Milling Parameters in 3D Printed Carbon Fiber-Reinforced PETG
by Mohamad El Mehtedi, Pasquale Buonadonna, Gabriela Loi, Rayane El Mohtadi, Mauro Carta and Francesco Aymerich
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(4), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8040128 - 29 Mar 2024
Viewed by 579
Abstract
Three-dimensional printing technology holds significant potential for enhancing the flexibility and cost-efficiency of producing carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs). However, it faces limitations such as challenges in achieving high surface qualityand precise dimensional accuracy and managing the distinctive anisotropic mechanical properties that it [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional printing technology holds significant potential for enhancing the flexibility and cost-efficiency of producing carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs). However, it faces limitations such as challenges in achieving high surface qualityand precise dimensional accuracy and managing the distinctive anisotropic mechanical properties that it demonstrates. This study aims to explore the machinability of 3D printed PETG infused with 20% short carbon fiber and to assess the resulting surface roughness and burr formation. Employing a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, three factors were considered: rotational speed, feed rate, and depth of cut. These factors were tested at varying levels—rotational speeds of 3000, 5500, and 8000 rpm; feed rates of 400, 600, and 800 mm/min; and depth of cut values of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mm. The evaluation of machinability relied on two key response parameters: surface roughness (Sa) determined from the milled surface and burr height measured on both sides using a roughness meter. The findings revealed a significant influence of milling parameters on both roughness and burr formation. However, the ideal conditions for minimizing roughness and reducing burr formation did not align. Furthermore, a comparative analysis was conducted between these results and the machinability of PETG under similar conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4887 KiB  
Article
Innovative Wedge Anchorage for CFRP Plates: Development and Testing
by Mustafa Alhusain and Adil Al-Mayah
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(3), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8030103 - 14 Mar 2024
Viewed by 852
Abstract
Gripping prestressed carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) in structural strengthening applications is challenging due to CFRPs’ susceptibility to lateral loading. This paper presents a reliable and reusable wedge anchorage for gripping CFRP plates that are 50 mm wide and 1.2 mm thick. The cylindrical [...] Read more.
Gripping prestressed carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) in structural strengthening applications is challenging due to CFRPs’ susceptibility to lateral loading. This paper presents a reliable and reusable wedge anchorage for gripping CFRP plates that are 50 mm wide and 1.2 mm thick. The cylindrical anchorage, which is 75 mm long and 76.2 mm in diameter, consists of an external steel barrel, two internal steel wedges, and two soft copper sleeves. The barrel-wedge interface is designed using an innovative arc–linear configuration, through which the desired stress distribution is attained, preventing stress concentration and the premature failure of the CFRP plate. The wedge anchorage was experimentally tested by applying a displacement-controlled tensile load of 0.6 mm/min until the complete fracture of the CFRP plate. The anchorage’s performance was examined under distinct installation conditions by applying different presetting levels: high (40–120 kN) and low (hammering) presetting. It was observed that the anchorage successfully prevented CFRP premature failure in all tests by achieving an average tensile loading of 172.3 (±5.7) kN, exceeding its reported tensile strength of 168 kN (2800 MPa). Minor CFRP displacements of 6.26 (±0.75) mm and 3.33 (±0.16) mm were recorded under low and high presetting levels, respectively. Similarly, the CFRP slippage relative to the wedges for the low and high presetting tests was only 1.18 (±0.75) mm and 0.33 (±0.15) mm, respectively. Also, only minor scratches were observed in the wedge–barrel interface, indicating the absence of extensive plastic deformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 12050 KiB  
Article
Stiffness Retention in Cyclic-Loaded CFRP Composites Produced via Novel Automatic Tape Laying
by Ashley Blythe, Bronwyn Fox, Mostafa Nikzad, Boris Eisenbart and Boon Xian Chai
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(3), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8030092 - 03 Mar 2024
Viewed by 832
Abstract
Sixteen-head automatic tape laying of non-crimped carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic is performed, and the fibre alignment is compared with that produced via hand laying. The effect of fibre alignment is tested via quasi-static and cyclic three-point bending tests. Using the Fill Multilayer (a 16-head tape-laying [...] Read more.
Sixteen-head automatic tape laying of non-crimped carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic is performed, and the fibre alignment is compared with that produced via hand laying. The effect of fibre alignment is tested via quasi-static and cyclic three-point bending tests. Using the Fill Multilayer (a 16-head tape-laying machine), precision fibre laying of unidirectional fabrics is performed with deliberate misalignment to examine the effect of fibre orientation and investigate the random effect on longitudinal misalignment. The automatic tape-layered coupons are compared with hand-layered carbon fibre tapes to investigate the relationship between the fibre alignment and the flexural strength. A 52% reduction in the fibre alignment scatter is achieved via the Fill Multilayer. Fibre orientation increases lead to a higher flexural strength of 16.08% for Fill Multilayer-made coupons compared with hand-layered samples. An investigation of the correlation between fibre alignment and flexural strength shows that shear-based failure increases exponentially as the alignment decreases. Fill Multilayer-made coupons have a higher void concentration due to ultrasonic welding, but also the highest modulus and flexural strength, as fibre misalignment is reduced to 1.68°, with a modulus degradation of 1.4%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 12447 KiB  
Article
Damage Model of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Based on Energy Conversion Principle
by Ruiqi Zheng, Jianyong Pang, Jian Sun, Yongqiang Su and Guoping Xu
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(2), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8020071 - 10 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1088
Abstract
In order to enhance the practical application of carbon-fiber-reinforced concrete (CFRC) in engineering, it is necessary to study the damage mechanism of CFRC. Experimental research on the mechanical properties of CFRC under multiple strain rates was conducted. Five different fiber contents were analyzed [...] Read more.
In order to enhance the practical application of carbon-fiber-reinforced concrete (CFRC) in engineering, it is necessary to study the damage mechanism of CFRC. Experimental research on the mechanical properties of CFRC under multiple strain rates was conducted. Five different fiber contents were analyzed to study the compressive strength and tensile strength of CFRC, and the damage characteristics of CFRC under multiple strain rates were analyzed based on failure modes and energy changes. An energy-based damage constitutive model was established. The results showed the following: (1) When the carbon fiber content was 0.4%, CFRC had the best comprehensive performance, with a 15.02% increase in compressive strength and a 51.12% increase in tensile strength. With the increase in strain rate, the compressive strength of the concrete increased. (2) Under high strain rates, carbon fiber significantly enhanced the compressive strength of the concrete, and the input energy, elastic strain energy, and dissipated energy increased. The peak value of the elastic strain energy conversion rate increased, and the minimum value of the dissipated energy conversion rate decreased. (3) Under the same strain rate, the CFRC had a larger inflection point of dissipated energy corresponding to the strain compared to the reference group of concrete during the loading process. A constitutive model for CFRC was established based on damage mechanics and probability statistics. The research results will provide theoretical references for the application of carbon-fiber-reinforced concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 7169 KiB  
Article
Effects of the Injection Material and Resin Layer on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic (CFRTP) Press and Injection Hybrid Molded Parts
by Kazuto Tanaka and Masaki Taniguchi
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(2), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8020056 - 01 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1247
Abstract
In the press and injection hybrid molded parts of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (FRTPs), failure at the interface between the surface material (the outer shell) and the ribs (the injection part) or that at the injection part has become an issue. Adding a resin layer [...] Read more.
In the press and injection hybrid molded parts of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (FRTPs), failure at the interface between the surface material (the outer shell) and the ribs (the injection part) or that at the injection part has become an issue. Adding a resin layer to the rib roots at the same time that the ribs are molded through injection has been proposed, which may increase the mechanical properties and reduce the material cost. To prevent failure at the injection part, the use of fiber-reinforced resin as an injection material has been suggested. This approach contributes to a higher bond strength by lowering the molding shrinkage rate. In this study, the hat-shaped parts of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) with fiber-reinforced and neat resin layers at the rib root were fabricated through press and injection hybrid molding, and their mechanical properties were evaluated through three-point bending tests. The effects of the resin layer at the rib root and the existence or nonexistence of fiber reinforcement on the mechanical properties, as well as the relationship between the material cost and the mechanical properties, were clarified through an experiment and FEM analysis. The bond strength was also evaluated through tensile tests that were undertaken at the rib root. Molded parts with neat PA6 and glass fiber-reinforced PA6 resin layers at the rib roots showed higher bond strength than those without resin layers. In a three-point bending test of a CFRTP hat-shaped part with a resin layer at the rib roots, the use of a 1 mm thick CFRTP laminate for the outer shell and glass fiber-reinforced PA6 resin as the injection material showed the same stiffness as a part that used a 2 mm thick CFRTP laminate for the outer shell. FEM analysis showed that the resin layer prevented the concentration of strain at the rib roots, and the model that used a 1 mm thick CFRTP laminate for the outer shell and glass fiber-reinforced PA6 resin as the injection material showed the best specific stiffness in this study. By adding a resin layer to the rib roots, the fabrication of molded parts with excellent specific stiffness was enabled at a small increase in cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III)
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1853 KiB  
Article
Buckling Analysis for Carbon and Glass Fibre Reinforced Hybrid Composite Stiffened Panels
by Haoting Han and Chensong Dong
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8010034 - 18 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1303
Abstract
Composite laminated structural panels are widely used in various industries such as aerospace and machinery because of their light weight, large specific stiffness, and strong fatigue resistance. As a typical engineering structure, the composite stiffened plate is designed to enhance the bearing capacity [...] Read more.
Composite laminated structural panels are widely used in various industries such as aerospace and machinery because of their light weight, large specific stiffness, and strong fatigue resistance. As a typical engineering structure, the composite stiffened plate is designed to enhance the bearing capacity of the laminated plate. In this study, composite stiffened panels reinforced by carbon and/or E-glass fibres are modelled by finite element analysis (FEA) using Ansys. Nonlinear structural analysis is employed to find the critical buckling load. Three different skin layups, i.e., [45°/−45°/90°/0°]S, [90°/0°/90°/0°]S, and [60°/−30°/90°/0°]S, are studied. For each ply angle combination, different ply material combinations are studied. The cost and weight of each combination formed by applying different ply materials to the skin and stiffeners are studied. The results show that hybrid reinforcement in the stiffened panels reduces costs and maintains high buckling loads. Carbon/epoxy composites as the outer layers also reduce costs and maintain acceptable buckling loads without compromising the overall performance. Customized composite designs in terms of cost and weight can be achieved while maintaining critical buckling loads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fiber Composites, Volume III)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop