Mechanical and Electrical Characterization of Carbon Fiber/Bucky Paper/Zinc Oxide Hybrid Composites

<p>The quest for multifunctional carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRPs) expedited the use of several nano reinforcements such as zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Zinc oxide is semi-conductor with good piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. These properties could be transmitted to CFRPs when a nanophase of ZnO is embedded within CFRPs. In lieu of ZnO nanorods, Bucky paper comprising mat of multiwall-carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) could be sandwiched in-between laminae to construct a functionally graded composite with elevated electrical and thermal conductivities. In this study, a low temperature ( 90_C) hydrothermal synthesis method was utilized to grow ZnO nanorods on the surface of carbon fiber fabrics. Different configurations of hybrid composites based on carbon fibers, in combination with ZnO nanorods and Bucky paper were fabricated. The composites were tested mechanically via tensile and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) tests to examine the effect of the different nanoadditives on the stiffness, strength and damping performance of the hybrid composites. Surface electrical resistivities of the hybrid composites were probed to examine the contributions of the different nanoadditives. The results suggest that there are certain hybrid composite combinations that could lead to the development of highly multifunctional composites with better strength, stiffness, damping and electrical conductivity.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Year

2017

Author dc:creator

• Ayyagari, Suma

• carbon fiber
• bucky paper
• zinc oxide
• hybrid composites
• Aerospace Engineering
• Structures and Materials

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/edt/361

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:edt-1360