title: Multi-Functional Carbon Fibre Composites using Carbon Nanotubes as an Alternative to Polymer Sizing.
abstract: Carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) were introduced to the aerospace, automobile and civil engineering industries for their high strength and low weight. A key feature of CFRP is the polymer sizing - a coating applied to the surface of the carbon fibres to assist handling, improve the interfacial adhesion between fibre and polymer matrix and allow this matrix to wet-out the carbon fibres. In this paper, we introduce an alternative material to the polymer sizing, namely carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the carbon fibres, which in addition imparts electrical and thermal functionality. High quality CNTs are grown at a high density as a result of a 35 nm aluminium interlayer which has previously been shown to minimise diffusion of the catalyst in the carbon fibre substrate. A CNT modified-CFRP show 300%, 450% and 230% improvements in the electrical conductivity on the 'surface', 'through-thickness' and 'volume' directions, respectively. Furthermore, through-thickness thermal conductivity calculations reveal a 107% increase. These improvements suggest the potential of a direct replacement for lightning strike solutions and to enhance the efficiency of current de-icing solutions employed in the aerospace industry.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Pozegic
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Anguita
authors.affiliation: Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science, Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamerton
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: K D G I
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Jayawardena
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: J-S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stolojan
authors.affiliation: Bombardier, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ballocchi
authors.affiliation: Bombardier, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: S R P
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Silva