RESUMO
Carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy (CFRE) laminates have attracted significant attention as a structural material specifically in the aerospace industry. In recent times, various strategies have been developed to modify the carbon fiber (CF) surface as the interface between the epoxy matrix and CFs plays a pivotal role in determining the overall performance of CFRE laminates. In the present work, graphene oxide (GO) was used to tag a polyetherimide (PEI, termed BA) containing exchangeable bonds and was employed as a sizing agent to improve the interfacial adhesion between CFs and epoxy. This unique GO-tagged-BA sizing agent termed BAGO significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of CFRE laminates by promoting stronger interactions between CFs and the epoxy matrix. The successful synthesis of BAGO was verified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, the partial reduction of GO owing to this tagging with BA was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, and the thermal stability of this unique sizing agent was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis. The amount of GO in BAGO was optimized as 0.25 wt% of BA termed 0.25-BAGO. The 0.25-BAGO sizing agent resulted in a significant increase in surface roughness, from 15 nm to 140 nm, and surface energy, from 13.2 to 34.7 mN m-1 of CF. The laminates prepared from 0.25-BAGO exhibited a remarkable 40% increase in flexural strength (FS) and a 35% increase in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) due to interfacial strengthening between epoxy and CFs. In addition, these laminates exhibited a self-healing efficiency of 51% in ILSS due to the presence of dynamic disulfide bonds in BAGO. Interestingly, the laminates with 0.25-BAGO exhibited enhanced Joule heating and enhanced deicing, though the EMI shielding efficiency slightly declined.
RESUMO
The exploration of 'electrostatic self-assembly' on solid surfaces has garnered significant interest across various fields. With the sophistication of gadgets, managing electromagnetic interference (EMI) from stray signals, especially in stealth applications, necessitates materials that can absorb microwaves. A promising approach involves integrating lightweight self-healing polymeric materials. This study employs electrostatic self-assembly to design a carbon nanotube structure on an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) made of PVDF and bismaleimide (BMI)-grafted dopamine hydrochloride, enhancing mechanical integrity through well-formed IPNs. Graphene oxide (GO) is introduced before IPN formation to facilitate an 'acceptor-donor' interaction via the Diels-Alder adduct between BMI and GO, which binds with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). MWCNTs, modified with PQ7 or PDDA for a positive charge, self-assemble onto the IPN-GO construct, creating a lightweight and chemically stable structure capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation. The 21 µm thick construct exhibits enhanced microwave absorption within the X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz), with a specific shielding effectiveness of 8637 dB cm2 g-1 and a green index (gs ≈ 1.41). The construct is coated with self-healable polyetherimide (PEI) containing exchangeable disulfide bonds to address maintenance challenges, providing heat-triggered self-healing properties. These innovative structures offer solutions for 5G and IoT applications where lightweight, durable, and multifunctional properties are essential for effectively shielding electronic devices from stray signals.