In Situ Deformation Monitoring of 3D Woven Composite T-Profile Using MXene Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Complex-shaped composite parts require effective structural health monitoring.
• Developing integrated sensing capabilities within composite materials is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a process-efficient, smart three-dimensional (3D) woven composite T-profile with integrated MXene nanoparticles for damage and deformation sensing.
• To enable online health monitoring of complex-shaped composite parts.

Main Methods:

• Manufacturing of 3D woven composite T-profiles using epoxy resin infusion and glass roving.
• Deposition of 10 layers of chemically etched Ti3C2Tz MXene nanoparticles at the T-profile junction via spraying to create a conductive coating.
• Subjecting MXene-coated composite T-profiles to tensile and fatigue loading to evaluate electromechanical response.

Main Results:

• The MXene coating effectively sensed sample deformation up to ultimate failure.
• The smart composite demonstrated sensitivity to tensile-tensile fatigue loading (2000 and 4000 cycles) under varying load-frequency conditions.
• The MXene coating accurately reflected the overall deformation of the composite structure.

Conclusions:

• Developed smart complex-shaped composites with integrated MXene coatings are capable of real-time health monitoring.
• The MXene-based sensing system shows promise for ensuring the integrity of composite structures under operational stress.
• This approach offers a pathway for process-efficient manufacturing of smart composite materials.