Publication Type : Journal Article
Publisher : Elsevier B.V.
Source : Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research, 2024, ISSN 2542-5048
Url : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542504824000101
Campus : Coimbatore
School : School of Engineering
Center : Center for Excellence in Advanced Materials and Green Technologies
Department : Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Year : 2024
Abstract : This investigation focuses on the synergistic performance improvement in graphene/MWCNT reinforced Polyaryletherketone (PAEK) - carbon fiber (CF) multi-scale composites. FTIR revealed the chemical interactions while HRTEM, XRD and 3D X-ray microscopy gave insight into nanofiller dispersion and microstructural features. The functional groups on nanofillers along with structural features integrated various components of the multi-scale composites by formation of graphene/MWCNT/CF complex network that provided larger interfacial area, bridging effect and physico-chemical interaction with PAEK while restricting its segmental mobility. Multi-scale composites displayed significantly improved strength, fracture toughness, interlaminar shear strength, glass transition temperature and tribological performance. Under dynamic load, graphene/MWCNT reinforcement of matrix and CF synergistically increases the storage modulus and energy absorption characteristics. Wear and fracture surface morphology of nano and multi-scale composites showed ductile failure confirming interfacial adhesion. The failure behavior in experimental studies was supported by Abaqus/Explicit-based FEM models of fracture toughness response. This work provides a promising avenue to develop next generation high performance thermoplastic composites for structural applications.
Cite this Research Publication : Sarath Kumar Painkal, Meera Balachandran, Karingamanna Jayanarayanan, Nagaarjun Sridhar, Sanjeev Kumar, Synergistic Enhancement in Mechanical Properties of Graphene/MWCNT Reinforced Polyaryletherketone – Carbon Fiber Multiscale Composites: Experimental Studies and Finite Element Analysis, Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research, Volume 8, Issue 1, January 2025, Pages 20-36, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aiepr.2024.02.002.