Damage sensing of nanocomposites for smart paste applications

Abstract

Nanocomposites manufacture has been developed rapidly, because of reinforcing effects of CNT in terms of mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. In this study, 10wt% CNT paste was fabricated with good dispersion state and easy processability. Damage sensing and reinforcing effect of CNT paste were investigated in nanocomposites. 10wt% CNT paste exhibited better tensile and flexural properties than those of general 1wt% CNT nanocomposites. To observe the healing effect of CNT paste, a crack was made artificially with 30wt% CF/PP composites, and the CNT paste was filled inside the crack. The damage sensing of CNT paste in CF/PP composites was investigated by electrical resistance measurement and mechanical tests. CNT paste exhibited good reinforcing effect in mechanical properties of CF/PP composites, and this reinforcing effect was getting better with larger cracks. It was because CNT paste had good interfacial adhesion with CF/PP composites to resist crack propagation. In electrical resistance measurement, there was a jump in electrical resistance signal at the adhesion interface. The jumping signal could be used to predict the fracture of CF/PP composites. Copyright 2015. Used by the Society of the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering with permission.