Enhanced durability of CNT based hierarchical composites subjected to accelerated aging environments.

Published

September 21, 2017

Author(s)

Ajay Krishnamurthy, Donald L. Hunston, Amanda L. Forster, Bharath NMN Natarajan, Sunny Wicks, Paul E. Stutzman, James A. Liddle, Aaron M. Forster, Brian L. Wardle

Abstract

As carbon nanotube (CNT) based composites are increasingly being identified as viable aerospace materials, it is vital to study their environmental degradation characteristics. In this work, the durability of CNT reinforced hierarchical alumina fiber composites were evaluated against plain alumina fiber composites under hydro (25 oC, water) and accelerated hydrothermal (60 oC, water) environments for long exposure periods. The addition of CNTs (1 % by volume) through direct fiber attachment was found to reduce solvent diffusivity by up to 1.6 times. These CNT composites exhibited no mechanical degradation under long-term hydrothermal (3 months) exposures. In contrast, even short hydrothermal (15 days) exposures of the plain alumina fiber composites were found to diminish their bending strength by  44 % of its original value.

Citation

Carbon

Volume

125

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

polymer nanocomposite, carbon nanotube, conductive composites, durability, nanoengineered composites

Citation

Krishnamurthy, A. , Hunston, D. , Forster, A. , , B. , Wicks, S. , Stutzman, P. , Liddle, J. , Forster, A. and Wardle, B. (2017), Enhanced durability of CNT based hierarchical composites subjected to accelerated aging environments., Carbon, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2017.09.006 (Accessed December 21, 2024)