Accession Number:

ADA547292

Title:

Multifunctional Carbon Nanotube-Based Sensors for Damage Detection and Self Healing in Structural Composites

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Aug 2006-31 Jul 2010

Corporate Author:

DELAWARE UNIV NEWARK

Personal Author(s):

• Chou, Tsu-Wei
• Thostenson, Erik T.

Report Date:

2010-10-29

Pagination or Media Count:

27.0

Abstract:

During the past year of the research program focusing on developing composites with damage sensing and self-healing functionalities based on carbon nanotubes, improvements to the state-of-the-art in nanocomposite processing have been made. In order to accommodate the processing of thick-section composites, an alternative approach to the traditional calandering method of carbon nanotube dispersion has been developed. A fiber sizing agent containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes was used in the processing of conductive E-glass fabric composites, which were demonstrated to undergo measurable, non-reversible changes in resistivity during the accumulation of damage under quasi-static loading scenarios. These conductively-modified composites possess the potential to sense damage under fatigue tensile and dynamic compressive and impact loadings. A review article describing the design, processing and resultant mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of nanotube-based composites has been published.

Descriptors:

• *CARBON NANOTUBES
• *COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
• THICKNESS
• DETECTION
• DAMAGE
• STATE OF THE ART
• RESISTANCE
• STATIC LOADS
• ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
• ACCUMULATION
• HEALING
• SCENARIOS
• THERMAL PROPERTIES
• COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Subject Categories:

• Laminates and Composite Materials

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE