Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Strain Sensing Based on Multiscale Composite Materials Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets
Published on: November 7, 2016
Graphene-Skinned Alumina Fiber: Continuously Scalable Fabrication and Its Electrothermal Application in
Xiaobai Wang1, Wenjing Jiang1, Jingnan Wang2
1Department of Chemistry, School of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Graphene-skinned alumina fiber (GAF) is a new composite with graphene conformally grown on individual alumina fibers via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Combining graphene's high conductivity with alumina fiber's strength, GAF shows promising potential for electrothermal applications and structural-functional integrated composites. Here, it is reported GAF dynamic, continuous, and scalable production using a home-made roll-to-roll (RTR) CVD system, featuring integrated degumming and growth chambers through multi-stage pressure regulation and nitrogen curtain-style purging. GAF exhibits excellent flexibility, high tensile strength (>1.1 GPa), and tunable conductivity (40-1260 S m-1). The system ensures intra-/inter-batch stability with an annual production capacity of 5100-153 000 m, depending on GAF specifications. GAF exhibits superior electrothermal performance, including broad tunable heating temperature (∼620°C in air, >1200°C in vacuum), ultrafast response (>600°C s-1), and high cycling stability. Furthermore, GAF presents excellent compatibility with the fabrication process of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. By interlaying GAF between glass fiber/epoxy resin unidirectional (UD) prepregs with different orientations, a GAF-reinforced polymer (GAFRP) composite is developed, showing adequate resin impregnation and uniform electrothermal heating. These findings highlight GAF's potential for structural-functional integrated FRP composites, particularly in applications such as electrothermal anti-/de-icing of aircraft and wind turbine blades, where FRPs are extensively employed.
More Related Videos
06:26Experimental Implementation of a New Composite Fabrication Method: Exposing Bare Fibers on the Composite Surface by the Soft Layer Method
Published on: October 6, 2017
09:54Author Spotlight: Enhancing Fiber Composite Laminate Quality with the Wet Hand Lay-Up/Vacuum Bag Process
Published on: June 30, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Thermal Stress
Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers
Fiber Reinforced Concrete