Mitigating cryogenic microcracking in carbon-fibre reinforced polymer composites using negative thermal-expansion nanoparticles functionalized by a polydopamine coating

Herein, we report a new method of mitigating cryogenic microcracking in carbon-fibre reinforced-plastics (CFRPs) using negative thermal-expansion nanomaterial, zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8), to simultaneously reduce the thermal residual stresses and enhance fracture energy epoxy matrix CFRPs. The results show that 1 wt% added ZrW2O8 nanoparticles functionalized by polydopamine can increase material 140%, coefficient expansion 20% and, more importantly, interlaminar resulting CFRP about 100% at −196 °C. ZrW2O8-modified has been demonstrated successfully prevent °C blocked cross-ply laminate with [04/908/04] fibre architecture.