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Interface and Interphase in Carbon Nanotube-Based Polymer Composites

A Review
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Abstract

The average mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) primarily depend on the properties of the constituents and the interaction between them. The strength of interaction is related to the extent of interface surrounding the fiber. Enhancing the interfacial area is one of the strategies to improve the interfacial strength and hence average mechanical properties of CFRP. To this end, a review is presented on the conventional and advanced approaches followed to improve the interfacial interaction. The advanced methods include the incorporation of nanofiller such as carbon nanotubes in the composite which act as secondary reinforcement in addition to the primary fiber reinforcement. This is followed by a discussion on the importance of interphase region (a region having distinct properties from fiber and matrix) and the ways to process and characterize the same.

Keywords

Carbon fiber Carbon nanotube CFRP Interface Interphase Multiscale and hybrid composite 
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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Mechanical EngineeringIndian Institute of Technology RoparRupnagarIndia

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