Preparation and properties of hierarchical composites based on carbon nanotubes-coated glass babric preform

A strategy based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs)‐containing sizing dispersion has been implemented to fabricate nanocomposite preforms and their hybrid multiscale composites. The state of pristine CNTs and carboxylic acid functionalized CNTs (CNTs–COOH) in sizing dispersion was effectively monitored by on‐line measuring electrical conductivity. The effects of different CNTs coating applied onto glass fabric on wettability of nanocomposite fibrous reinforcement with epoxy matrix were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and capillary experiment. A CNTs‐COOH loading of 0.5 wt% gave rise to 97% and 30°C increases in the storage modulus (G′) and glass transition temperature of the resulting hybrid composites, respectively. The enhanced thermomechanical properties of the CNTs hybrid composites are closely related to the stable CNTs sizing dispersion and uniform coating onto fiber reinforcement. The mechanism for reinforcing composites through toughening resin region with CNTs desorbing from primary fiber surface during impregnation has been identified. POLYM. COMPOS. 37:979–986, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers