Enhancing Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers' Performance and Reparability Through Core-Shell Rubber Modification and...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) offer high performance but suffer from brittleness and impact damage susceptibility.
• Developing effective impact modifiers and repair strategies is crucial for enhancing CFRP durability and extending service life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact modification of CFRPs using core-shell rubber (CSR) particles.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of CSR-containing patch repairs for damaged CFRP panels.

Main Methods:

• Mechanical testing (flexural, tensile, impact, fracture toughness) of reference and CSR-modified CFRPs.
• Fracture surface analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
• Drop-weight impact tests and ultrasonic C-scans for assessing patch repair efficacy on damaged panels.

Main Results:

• CSR modification significantly increased impact strength by 50% and Mode I fracture energy by 181%.
• Slight reductions in flexural and tensile strengths were noted due to CSR particle softening.
• Equal-thickness CSR patches restored structural integrity and boosted energy absorption by 37% in repaired panels.
• Non-destructive testing confirmed reduced damage in repaired CSR-modified CFRPs.

Conclusions:

• CSR particles are effective impact modifiers for CFRPs, enhancing damage tolerance and energy absorption.
• CSR-containing patch repairs can successfully restore and improve the performance of damaged CFRP structures.
• These advancements are vital for applications requiring high durability, such as aerospace and automotive components.