Enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of carbon fiber epoxy composite laminates reinforced with carbon nanotubes interlayer using electrospray deposition

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was successfully deposited onto the surface of woven carbon fiber (CF) using the electrospray deposition method to produce a woven hybrid CF-CNT. The effect of voltage and spray times on the morphology of the woven hybrid CF-CNT have been studied. The voltage and spray time is crucial towards achieving a homogeneous CNT coating on the woven CF surface. The epoxy composite laminated with optimized woven hybrid CF-CNT and woven CF without the deposited CNTs were then prepared, and its tensile and thermal properties subsequently determined. The results showed that the woven hybrid CF-CNT epoxy composite laminates tensile strength increased by ~21%, its tensile modulus increased by ~37%, its interlaminar shear strength increased by ~25%, and its thermal conductivity increased by ~35% relative to that of the woven CF epoxy composite laminates.