Load bearing enhancement of pin joined composite laminates using electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers were produced by an electrospinning technique and directly deposited onto carbon fabric to improve the load bearing strength of pin joined composite laminates. Two types of specimens, virgin laminates and nano-modified laminates, were prepared. A modified carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate was fabricated by interleaving electrospun nanofibers at all of the interlayers of an eight-ply woven carbon fiber fabric. The load bearing test results of the pin joined laminates indicated the electrospun PAN nanofibers increased the load bearing strength by 18.9%. In addition, three point bending tests were also conducted to investigate the flexural modulus and flexural strength of both types of laminates. The flexural modulus and flexural strength also increased by 20.9% and 55.91%, respectively.