The Bending Properties of CFRP I-shaped Cross-Sectional Beam with Dispersing Cellulose Nanofibers on the Surface

Abstract

The strength enhancement of the matrix of CFRP has been a major research subject. In particular, strength of the surface resin layer of CFRP is quite important since the bending stress is most effective on the surface but also exposed to foreign object debris (FOD). One of the methods to strengthen resin matrix of CFRP is to disperse cellulose nanofibers (CNF), therefore, many studies have been conducted. However, due to hydrophilicity of CNF, a hydrophobic treatment is indispensable. Although various hydrophobic methods have been proposed, special chemical substances are required and resulted in higher manufacturing costs. In previous study, authors showed that the mechanical properties of CFRP were enhanced by CNF without hydrophobic treatment using the electro-activated deposition resin molding (ERM) method. In the ERM method, a non-crimp carbon fiber fabric (NCF) is immersed in the electro-activated deposition solution which contains polymer with epoxy group. Then, by energization, the resin precipitates around the carbon fiber and is efficiently impregnated to the NCF in the solution. After the ERM, CNF can be applied on the surface of CFRP since the electro-activated deposition solution is water-based. After thermal curing, CNF is embedded on the surface resin layer of CFRP. In this study, the analysis to understand the effect of CNF on the mechanical properties was carried out. As a practical application, the I-shaped cross-sectional beam (I-beam) was selected for the analysis. It was experimentally revealed that the bending strength of I-beam was enhanced by embedding of CNF. With assumed the material constants based on the tensile tests of the CFRP, the bending properties with dispersing CNF on the surface were analyzed by using the finite element method. As a result, the relationship between load and deflection could be well simulated, and the effect of CNF on the bending properties was clarified.