Impact strength and fracture behavior of Halloysite nanotube (HNT)-modified carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) based on the electrophoretic dispersion (EPD) process

Abstract

Because particles that accumulate without movement can lead to a deposition gradient, the formation of a stable suspension is essential for the electrophoretic dispersion (EPD) process. The hydrophobic properties of Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were easily dispersed in many nonpolar polymers without further deformation steps. However, the uniform dispersion of HNTs in aqueous solutions is a pre-EPD process task. The zeta potential controls the main parameters of EPD processes, such as the density of deposits, particle orientation and velocity, and repulsive interactions between particles, which determine the stability of the suspension. In this study, the solution stability range for the addition of nanoparticles was measured and the optimal dispersion range was determined. In addition, an HNT-reinforced composite material was created by determining the optimal dispersion stability range of HNT, and the impact strength and fracture mechanism of the interface were analyzed. The solution stability and dispersion were the best between pH 6.6 and 6.8, and the highest impact strength was confirmed at 0.7 wt%. The HNT confirmed the interfacial dispersion of the EPD-fibers using scanning electron microscopy and dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS).