Multi-Nozzle Electrospinning of Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Submicron Filaments for Composite Reinforcement Applications

Abstract

Nanocomposites are gaining tremendous attention in structural applications from the automotive to aerospace industries. In this research, we used multi-nozzle electrospinning using Lateral Belt Driven (LBD) approach to fabricate mass production of submicron thermoset epoxy filaments with carbon nanotubes (CNT) to enhance the mechanical properties of Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Electrospinning is one of the most versatile, low-cost, and well-recognized technologies for producing continuous filaments with diameters ranging from submicron. These Nanofilaments were precisely incorporated into the prepreg layers to improve adhesion and interfacial bonding. In this study, the deposition characteristics of the multi-nozzles were observed and analyzed to understand the fiber formation of each nozzle on the multi-nozzle (10 nozzles in 50 mm apart) platform, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 represents the summarized fiber diameters of the SEM images at 6,000× magnification from each nozzle while the electrospinning parameters were kept constant; Voltage: 17kv; nozzle gauge: 25G, working distance: 12 cm, and time of spinning: 5min. ImageJ software was used to analyze the SEM images and was plotted using Origin Pro software. CNT/Epoxy Fiber mean diameter was 128.3 nm ±35.4 nm resulting in a 29% improvement in Interlaminar Shear Strength (ILSS) of the multi-nozzle electrospun CNT/Epoxy enhanced CFRP laminates.