CNT-grafted glass fibers as a smart tool for epoxy cure monitoring, UV-sensing and thermal energy harvesting in model composites

Abstract

A 'hierarchical' reinforcement of glass fibers (GFs) chemically grafted with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been utilized for epoxy cure monitoring, UV-sensing, and thermal energy harvesting in model composites. MWCNTs were covalently attached to the surface of glass fiber yarns (GF-yarns) in a dip-coating deposition process. Hereafter, the hybrid yarns are denoted as GF-CNT. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated a highly uniform CNT-layer covering the fiber surfaces. In turn, GF-CNT reached a maximum conductivity of 2060 S m-1, being of the same order of magnitude as the CNT-only bucky paper film. A GF-CNT in a uni-directional arrangement within a dog-bone shaped mould was employed for epoxy cure monitoring, recording the resistance changes during the curing process. In addition, three yarns connected in parallel highlighted the potential for detecting the resin position upon filling a mould. GF-CNT embedded in epoxy has been proposed also as an integrated non-invasive composite UV-sensor, allowing polymer matrix health monitoring. Besides, the semi-conductive nature of MWCNTs offered the opportunity of thermoelectric energy harvesting by the GF-CNT and its model composite when exposed to a temperature gradient. This work reports some new insights into and potential of fiber/CNT multi-scale reinforcements giving rise to multi-functional structural composites. © 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry.