Effect of carbon nanotube waviness on the effective thermoelastic properties of a novel continuous fuzzy fiber reinforced composite

This paper deals with the investigation of the effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) waviness on the effective coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of a novel continuous fuzzy fiber reinforced composite (FFRC). This novel FFRC is composed of carbon fibers, sinusoidally wavy CNTs and epoxy matrix. The sinusoidally wavy CNTs are radially grown on the circumferential surfaces of the carbon fibers. Analytical micromechanics model based on the method of cells (MOC) approach is derived to investigate the influence of the waviness of CNTs on the effective CTEs of the FFRC. The present study reveals that if the amplitudes of the radially grown sinusoidally wavy CNTs are parallel to the axis of the carbon fiber then the thermoelastic properties of the FFRC are significantly improved over those of the FFRC being composed of straight CNTs.