Realizing the theoretical stiffness of graphene in composites through confinement between carbon fibers
Jingwen Chu, Robert J.Young, Thomas J.A.Slater, Timothy L.Burnett, Broderick Coburn, Ludovic Chichignoud, Aurèle Vuilleumier, Zheling Li - National Graphene Institute and School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility and School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; McLaren Applied Technologies, McLaren Technology Centre, Chertsey Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 4YH, UK; North Thin Ply Technology Sarl, Chemin du Closel 3, 1020 Renens, Switzerland; RICHARD MILLE, Rue du Jura 11, CH-2345 Les Breuleux, Switzerland.
It is shown that approximately 2wt% of graphene in the matrix of a unidirectionally-reinforced carbon fiber epoxy composite leads to a significant enhancement in mechanical properties. Particularly, it is found that the axial stiffness of the composites is increased by 10GPa accompanied by an increase in axial strength of 200MPa.