The Effect of Particle Size and Functionalisation on Electro-thermo-mechanical Properties of Graphene-enhanced Epoxy and Carbon Fibre Epoxy Nano-Composites

Abstract

Nanomaterials with superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties have gained considerable interest in material science. This project studies the application of nanomaterials in nanocomposites and carbon fibre reinforced nano-composites. Different loadings (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5wt%) and nanomaterials (graphene nanoplatelets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes) were added to the epoxy matrix of a carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composite. Sonication and shear mixing were used to provide shear forces for nanoparticles to mix with the matrix, and a thin film hot press technique was used to manufacture the carbon fibre nano-composites. It is well known that the reinforcement role of nanomaterials is largely dependent on the particle's intrinsic properties, the dispersion quality and the interfacial bonding between nanoparticles and the matrix. In this project, the effect of functionalisation and particle sizes on electro-thermo-mechanical properties was studied. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) with surface area 750 m²/g, diameter

Date of Award	3 Jan 2018
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Constantinos Soutis (Supervisor) & Matthieu Gresil (Supervisor)