Carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRPs) are light weight, have high strength and modulus, which make them qualified candidates for numerous automotive and aerospace industries. However one of the major technical challenges for these materials in airplanes bodies, in terms of aircraft safety and durability, is lightning strike protection (LSP). This is due to the inadequate electrical properties of normal CFRPs. Although, CFRPs have relatively good in-plane electrical conductivity compared to neat epoxy resin, they lack metal-like high conductivity for LSP applications. To solve this issue, metal materials such as copper or aluminum mesh are attached to carbon fiber composites in the aircraft's body. This solution is not satisfactory due to heavy weight of metals and the occurrence of galvanic corrosion between metals and CFRPs. On other hand carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess great potential for enhancing high-performance and multifunctional nanocomposites and exhibit incredible mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, which can replace the metal mesh materials. This study investigates the use of carbon nanotubes to enhance composite conductivity for potential metal material replacement and their basic current- carrying capacity. During testing, the samples were exposed to high temperatures with electrical current-induced thermal heating in atmosphere condition. High electrical currents generated Joule heating causing thermal degradation at over 600 °C (main failure mechanism). Micro-structural changes of the samples after electrical current heating were observed using SEM and EDS analyses. The result show resin evaporation at the notch and nucleation of Fe and Ti particles. CNTs enhance the current carrying capability of the CFRP and Buckypaper (preformed thin CNT film) composites. However, the performance improvement differs upon on the epoxy used as well as the manufacturing method and nantubes types. In addition higher conductivity of the samples contributed to higher current-carrying density at the breakdown point. These results provide a preliminary understanding of the effect of the CNTs on the current carrying capability and the electrical properties of CNT enhanced CFRPs and BP composites. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Science. / Fall Semester, 2010. / November 2, 2010. / Composites, Buckypapers, CFRPs, Lightning strike protection / Includes bibliographical references. / Richard Zhiyong Liang, Professor Directing Thesis; Chuck Zhang, Committee Member; Chad Zheng, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_253826 |
| Contributors | Azamian, Pegah (authoraut), Liang, Richard Zhiyong (professor directing thesis), Zhang, Chuck (committee member), Zheng, Chad (committee member), Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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