Composite materials with nanofibrous reinforcements are capable of high mechanical performance and enhanced properties despite their low volume fraction of reinforcement. In this study, tensile properties of epoxy-matrix nanocomposites were investigated after reinforcing by hand layup method implementation of randomly oriented electrospun nanofiber layers. The reinforcements were produced from polyacrylonitrile (PAN), Polyamide-6,6 (PA-6,6), and their 50/50 hybrid. The results indicated that PAN enhanced the tensile toughness of the matrix by almost 4 times, increasing both the ductility (an expected 23% due to fiber being more elastic than the matrix) and the ultimate tensile strength (a surprising 35% even though the fibers were less stiff than the matrix). These results indicate significant improvements in the impact properties for advanced applications. The results revealed that PA-6,6 did not show the characteristics of a promising reinforcement whether used solely or added to PAN.
ZucchelliAFocareteMLGualandiC, et al. Electrospun nanofibers for enhancing structural performance of composite materials. Polym Adv Technol2011; 22: 339–349.
2.
PalazzettiRZucchelliA.Electrospun nanofibers as reinforcement for composite laminates materials – a review. Compos Struct2017; 182: 711–727.
3.
SaghafiHFotouhiMMinakG.Improvement of the impact properties of composite laminates by means of nano-modification of the matrix – a review. Appl Sci2018; 8: 2406.
4.
WangGYuDKelkarAD, et al. Electrospun nanofiber: Emerging reinforcing filler in polymer matrix composite materials. Prog Polym Sci2017; 75: 73–107.
5.
PersanoLCamposeoATekmenC, et al. Industrial upscaling of electrospinning and applications of polymer nanofibers: a review. Macromol Mater Eng2013; 298: 504–520.
6.
GreinerAWendorffJH.Electrospinning: a fascinating method for the preparation of ultrathin fibers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl2007; 46: 5670–5703.
7.
XueJWuTDaiY, et al. Electrospinning and electrospun nanofibers: methods, materials, and applications. Chem Rev2019; 119: 5298–5415.
8.
DzenisY.Spinning continuous fibers for nanotechnology. Science2004; 304: 1917–1919.
9.
PapkovDZouYAndalibMN, et al. Simultaneously strong and tough ultrafine continuous nanofibers. ACS Nano2013; 7: 3324–3331.
10.
VahabiHWuHSaebMR, et al. Electrospinning for developing flame retardant polymer materials: current status and future perspectives. Polymer2021; 217: 123466.
11.
LiDXiaY.Electrospinning of nanofibers: reinventing the wheel?Adv Mater2004; 16: 1151–1170.
12.
HuangZ-MZhangY-ZKotakiM, et al. A review on polymer nanofibers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol2003; 63: 2223–2253.
13.
YaoJBastiaansenCPeijsT.High strength and high modulus electrospun nanofibers. Fibers2014; 2: 158–186.
FangJNiuHLinT, et al. Applications of electrospun nanofibers. Sci Bull2008; 53: 2265–2286.
16.
TeoW-ERamakrishnaS.Electrospun nanofibers as a platform for multifunctional, hierarchically organized nanocomposite. Compos Sci Technol2009; 69: 1804–1817.
17.
KimJRenekerDH.Mechanical properties of composites using ultrafine electrospun fibers. Polym Compos1999; 20: 124–131.
18.
BajiAMaiY-WWongS-C, et al. Electrospinning of polymer nanofibers: effects on oriented morphology, structures and tensile properties. Compos Sci Technol2010; 70: 703–718.
LeeJ-RParkS-JSeoM-K, et al. Preparation and characterization of electrospun poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) nanofibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites. MRS Proc2004; 851: NN5.11.
21.
Romo-UribeAArizmendiLRomero-GuzmánME, et al. Electrospun nylon nanofibers as effective reinforcement to polyaniline membranes. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces2009; 1: 2502–2508.
22.
ChenL-SHuangZ-MDongG-H, et al. Development of a transparent PMMA composite reinforced with nanofibers. Polym Compos2009; 30: 239–247.
23.
NeppalliRMaregaCMarigoA, et al. Poly(ε-caprolactone) filled with electrospun nylon fibres: a model for a facile composite fabrication. Eur Polym J2010; 46: 968–976.
24.
ÖzdenEMenceloğluYZPapilaM.Engineering chemistry of electrospun nanofibers and interfaces in nanocomposites for superior mechanical properties. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces2010; 2: 1788–1793.
25.
AhmadlooEGharehaghajiAALatifiM, et al. How fracture toughness of epoxy-based nanocomposite is affected by PA66 electrospun nanofiber yarn. Eng Fract Mech2017; 182: 62–73.
26.
AminiGGharehaghajiAA.Improving adhesion of electrospun nanofiber mats to supporting substrate by using adhesive bonding. Int J Adhes Adhes2018; 86: 40–44.
27.
AhmadlooEGharehaghajiALatifiM, et al. Effect of PA66 nanofiber yarn on tensile fracture toughness of reinforced epoxy nanocomposite. Proc IMechE, Part C: J Mechanical Engineering Science2019; 233: 2033–2043.
28.
ZarehshiAGharehaghajiAAsgharian JeddiA.In situ fabrication of PAN nanofibrous composites for enhanced toughness. Proc IMechE, Part C: J Mechanical Engineering Science2020; 234: 3228–3240.
29.
ShakilUAHassanSBAYahyaMY, et al. Mechanical properties of electrospun nanofiber reinforced/interleaved epoxy matrix composites – a review. Polym Compos2020; 41: 2288–2315.
30.
SongYZhengNDongX, et al. Flexible carboxylated CNT/PA66 nanofibrous mat interleaved carbon fiber/epoxy laminates with improved interlaminar fracture toughness and flexural properties. Ind Eng Chem Res2020; 59: 1151–1158.
