Hierarchical Composites with Carbon Nanotube Grafted Fibres

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are excellent candidates for a new generation of high-strength, high-stiffness materials due to their low density, high aspect ratio and intrinsically superior mechanical properties. The present study investigates the feasibility of reinforcing conventional fibre/matrix composites by grafting CNTs onto the fibre surface. The approach is to exploit the CNT performance to enhance the longitudinal compression and interlaminar performance of fibre/matrix composites. The presence of the CNTs at the fibre surface is likely to enhance the fibre/matrix interfacial strength, thus improving the delamination resistance. Such reinforcement radial to the fibres, extending into the surrounding matrix, will inhibit fibre microbuckling, which is the critical failure mode under compressive loading.