Multiscale fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites incorporating carbon nanotubes: A review

• Studies on multiscale fiber/thermoplastic/carbon nanotube composites are reviewed.
• Their mechanical, thermal and electrical properties are comparatively analyzed.
• Synergic effects between fillers on enhancing composite performance are described.
• Challenges for future developments and potential applications are discussed.

This article reviews recent literature on hierarchical thermoplastic-based composites that simultaneously incorporate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and conventional microscale fibers, and discusses the structure–property relationships of the resulting hybrids. The mixing of multiple and multiscale constituents enables the preparation of materials with new or improved properties due to synergistic effects. By exploiting the outstanding mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of CNTs, a new generation of multifunctional high-performance composites suitable for a wide variety of applications can be developed.