RTM processing and electrical performance of carbon nanotube modified epoxy/fibre composites

摘要

This investigation focuses on nanoparticle filtration in the processing ofmultiscale carbon and glass fibre composites via resin transfer moulding.Surface modified and unmodified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were incorporated into acommercial epoxy resin. The dispersion quality was evaluated using electricalmeasurements of the liquid suspensions. The manufacturing process was adapted tothe challenges posed by the modified rheological behaviour of the CNT loadedresin. Nanoparticle filtration was observed; with some of the unmodified systemsfollowing so called ‘cake filtration' behaviour. This resulted in nonlinear flowbehaviour that deviated from the ideal response observed in RTM filling inconventional composites. The electrical conductivity of relatively high fibrevolume fraction multiscale carbon and glass laminates increased by less than anorder of magnitude with the addition of the nanotube