The effect of electrophoretic deposition of carbon nanotubes onto carbon fiber on the interlaminar resistance of carbon reinforced aluminum laminates

Functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes were deposited on the carbon fabric using ultrasonic-assisted electrophoretic deposition. The effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) deposition time and morphology on the mode I interlaminar fracture resistance of carbon reinforced aluminum laminates (CARALL) was investigated. The formation of a proper network of CNTs on the carbon fabric favorably deviated the crack growth into the carbon fabric layer and intensified the fiber bridging during the delamination. The CNT coating on the carbon fiber in conjunction with the alkaline-acid treatment on the Al substrate significantly promoted the interlaminar fracture initiation and propagation energies and stabilized the fracture behavior.