Interfacial resistive heating and mechanical properties of graphene oxide assisted CuO nanoparticles in woven carbon fiber/polyester composite

Woven carbon fiber (WCF)-based polyester composites were developed via a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process in combination with CuO and graphene oxide (GO). The interlaminar resistive heating behavior and allied mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The CuO nanoparticles were synthesized from copper nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine precursors using traditional microwave green synthesis, while the GO was synthesized by slight modification of Hummer’s method. The nanoparticle shapes and sizes were assessed via scanning electron microscopy, and the nanoparticle distributions in the composites and their chemical interactions were examined using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was found that the composite strengths and moduli were enhanced by up to 61.2% and 57.5%, whereas the interfacial shear strength was enhanced by 89.9%. A composite filled with 120-mM CuO and 1.2-phr GO exhibited maximum performance as regards mechanical and resistive heating. Impact resistance measurements were conducted at 3-J penetration energy, and a 154.2% increase in nanofiller content was achieved. The addition of CuO nanoparticles increased the interlaminar resistive heating of the composite and, at 120-mM concentration, a 78.9% increment in the average temperature was attained. The presence of nanoparticles in the interlaminar region also decelerated the cooling process.