Graphene and CNT‐Based Smart Fiber‐Reinforced Composites: A Review

Abstract

Multifunctional fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites provide an ideal platform for next-generation smart composites applications including structural health monitoring, electrical and thermal conductivity, energy storage and harvesting, and electromagnetic interference shielding without compromising their mechanical properties. Recent progress in carbon-based nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has enabled the development of many novel multifunctional composites with excellent mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. However, the effective incorporation of such carbon nanomaterials into FRP composites using scalable, high-speed, and cost-effective manufacturing without compromising their performance is challenging. This review summarizes the recent progress on graphene and CNT-based FRP composites, their manufacturing techniques, and their applications in smart composites. Current technical challenges and future perspectives on smart FRP composites research to facilitate an essential step toward moving from research and development-based smart composites to industrial-scale mass production are also discussed.

Sustainable Fiber‐Reinforced Composites: A Review

“…The type, length, arrangements, and orientation of fibers define the properties and structural behavior of the final composites. [ 35 ]…”

“…[ 212 ] Several carbonaceous materials were reported to be utilized for the modification of natural fiber reinforced composites, in particular carbon nanotubes (CNTs). [ 35 ] Shen et al [ 213 ] treated ramie fibers/epoxy composites with different CNT contents ranging from 0 to 0.6 wt.% and the investigation showed that, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), flexural strength, and flexural modulus were improved by about 38%, 34%, and 37% respectively. Islam et al, [ 214 ] increased the mechanical strength of jute fibers composites by dip‐drying jute fibers with CNTs.…”

“…The general structural assembly of FRP composites and their classification: a) Basic constituents of FRP composites, b) continuous FRP composites: unidirectional and bi-directional,and c) discontinuous FRP composites: aligned and randomly oriented composites. Reproduced with permission [35]. Copyright 2022, Wiley-VCH.…”

Self-healing, Solvent-free Anti-corrosion Coating based on Skin-like polyurethane/carbon nanotubes Composite with Real-time Damage Monitoring

“…Secondly, the similarity of functions, the epidermis layer of skin provides a barrier for the substrate, and the dermis layer confers good exibility and elasticity to the skin, providing insulation, buffering external shock and self-healing function of skin tissue damage [28]. Similarly, the polyurethane layer composed of exible molecular chains containing dynamic hydrogen and disul de bonds provides exibility, elasticity and self-healing functions to the coating, while the CNTs layer is relatively rigid and dense, which endows the polyurethane elastomer layer with a signi cant barrier effect and mechanical strength [29]. Figure 1b shows that the SFPUHE-HTF-CNTs have a distinct layered structure, with the inner layer composed of self-healing polyurethane and the outer layer composed of CNTs.…”

Highly Scalable, Sensitive and Ultraflexible Graphene‐Based Wearable E‐Textiles Sensor for Bio‐Signal Detection

“…[25] Among them, graphene, a single atom thick 2D closely packed honeycomb lattice of sp 2 carbon allotropes, has received much attention from the researcher community, owing to its excellent mechanical, thermal, electrical, and other properties. [26][27][28] Since its isolation in 2004, graphene and graphene-like 2D materials have shown great promise as transduction system and supporting substrates for fabricating next generation electronics, especially biosensors. Their extremely high surface area, coupled with a broad range of electrical and optical properties, makes them ideal for biosensing applications.…”