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<p>In this work, the interlaminar matrix toughening and in-plane mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy polymer (CFRP) were investigated by interleaving carbon black (CB)-modified poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) fiber mats manufactured by electrospinning. To explicitly isolate the intrinsic matrix toughening mechanisms and eliminate artificial macroscopic fiber bridging effects, interlaminar fracture behavior was strictly evaluated at the crack initiation region. Thermomechanical and spectroscopic analyses revealed that unmodified PEO interleaving achieves miscibility within epoxy, resulting in extensive plastic yielding that increased the interlaminar fracture toughness (G<sub>IC</sub>-initiation) of CFRP by 61.60%. However, this plasticization inherently compromised the in-plane flexural properties. The strategic incorporation of 5&#xa0;wt.% CB into the PEO mats successfully counteracted this softening. While the rigid nanoparticles partially restricted PEO miscibility, reducing G<sub>IC</sub>-initiation relative to the unmodified PEO-interleaved composite (30.31%), 5CBP-CFRP laminate still exhibited a 12.66% improvement in toughness over non-interleaved CFRP. Simultaneously, the optimal dispersion of 5&#xa0;wt.% CB enhanced interlaminar load transfer, increasing the flexural modulus, strength, and % strain by 10.00%, 16.60%, and 2.70%, respectively, compared to non-interleaved CFRP laminate. Conversely, investigating higher nanoparticle loadings (10&#xa0;wt.% CB) revealed the physical limits of this modification; severe CB agglomeration acted as a profound steric barrier that disrupted polymer-matrix hydrogen bonding, inducing macroscopic phase separation, unstable stick–slip fracture behaviors, and a subsequent reinforcement plateau. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that 5&#xa0;wt.% CB-modified PEO mats provide an optimal, synergistic toughening mechanism, delivering a balanced enhancement of both interlaminar damage tolerance and in-plane structural stiffness for advanced CFRP applications.</p>

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Mode I Interlaminar Matrix Toughening and In-Plane Mechanical Properties of CFRP Laminates Interleaved with CB-Modified PEO Electrospun Fiber Mats

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月6日

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  • Merve Şehnaz Akbulut,
  • Özgür Demircan,
  • Engin Burgaz

摘要

In this work, the interlaminar matrix toughening and in-plane mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy polymer (CFRP) were investigated by interleaving carbon black (CB)-modified poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) fiber mats manufactured by electrospinning. To explicitly isolate the intrinsic matrix toughening mechanisms and eliminate artificial macroscopic fiber bridging effects, interlaminar fracture behavior was strictly evaluated at the crack initiation region. Thermomechanical and spectroscopic analyses revealed that unmodified PEO interleaving achieves miscibility within epoxy, resulting in extensive plastic yielding that increased the interlaminar fracture toughness (GIC-initiation) of CFRP by 61.60%. However, this plasticization inherently compromised the in-plane flexural properties. The strategic incorporation of 5 wt.% CB into the PEO mats successfully counteracted this softening. While the rigid nanoparticles partially restricted PEO miscibility, reducing GIC-initiation relative to the unmodified PEO-interleaved composite (30.31%), 5CBP-CFRP laminate still exhibited a 12.66% improvement in toughness over non-interleaved CFRP. Simultaneously, the optimal dispersion of 5 wt.% CB enhanced interlaminar load transfer, increasing the flexural modulus, strength, and % strain by 10.00%, 16.60%, and 2.70%, respectively, compared to non-interleaved CFRP laminate. Conversely, investigating higher nanoparticle loadings (10 wt.% CB) revealed the physical limits of this modification; severe CB agglomeration acted as a profound steric barrier that disrupted polymer-matrix hydrogen bonding, inducing macroscopic phase separation, unstable stick–slip fracture behaviors, and a subsequent reinforcement plateau. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that 5 wt.% CB-modified PEO mats provide an optimal, synergistic toughening mechanism, delivering a balanced enhancement of both interlaminar damage tolerance and in-plane structural stiffness for advanced CFRP applications.