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Synergistically enhancing the electrical conductivity of carbon fibre reinforced polymers by vertical graphene and silver nanowires

Zhao Sha, Xinying Cheng, Mohammad S. Islam, Pichsinee Sangkarat, Wenkai Chang, Sonya A. Brown, Shuying Wu, Jin Zhang, Zhaojun Han, Shuhua Peng, Chun H. Wang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Increasing the electrical conductivity of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs) holds great promises for a range of applications, such as removing the need for metallic meshes in the protection against electromagnetic interference and lightning strikes. Herein, a hybrid method of improving the electrical conductivity of CFRPs by functionalizing carbon fibres with vertical graphene (VG) and modifying the matrix with silver nanowires (AgNWs) is introduced. The results revealed that the hybrid method increased the through-thickness and the in-plane electrical conductivities by almost 38 times and 39%, respectively, without adversely affecting mechanical properties. Finite element modelling revealed that the unprecedented synergy is due to the significant reduction in the contact resistance between carbon fibres by the combination of VGs on the fibres and the AgNWs in the matrix. Computational modelling showed that the electrical conductivity increase can reduce the joule heat density by around one thousand times under simplified lightning strike conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number107463
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalComposites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
Volume168
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2023. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

  • Electrical conductivity
  • Carbon fibre reinforced polymers
  • Vertical graphene
  • Silver nanowires

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