Nano-engineered Composites Reinforced with Aligned Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)

We present the implementation of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a method to enhance properties of traditional advanced composites. The hybrid composites are 3-dimensional architectures of aligned CNTs, and existing advanced fibers and polymeric resins creating nanoengineered composites. Our work to date has focused on interlaminar strength and toughness, and electrical and thermal conductivities of two laminate-level architectures. The first approach utilizes aligned CNT forests placed between ply layers perpendicular to the fiber direction to create “nano-stitches”. The second approach involves growing the CNTs directly on woven alumina fibers, so that the CNTs extend radially outward from every fiber forming “fuzzy fibers”. Three standard processing routes for are reviewed: nano-stitching of graphite/epoxy prepreg, nanostitching of graphite/epoxy cloth in a resin-infusion process, and hand layup of fuzzy fiber ceramic cloth.