Mechanisms of simultaneously enhanced mechanical and tribological properties of carbon fabrics/phenolic resin composites reinforced with graphite nanoplatelets

In this study, graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) were grafted on the carbon fabrics (CFs) surface by chemical grafted method. The effect of GNPs as a reinforcement on the mechanical and tribological properties of CFs/phenolic resin composites was investigated. Experimental results revealed that GNPs was grafted uniformly on the carbon fiber surface when the distribution density of GNPs was 10.82 mg/m². The tensile strength of CFs/phenolic resin composites modified by GNPs was significantly improved by 47.5% in comparison with that of unmodified composites. Moreover, the presence of GNPs in the CFs/phenolic interphase exhibited significant improvement in the wear resistance of composites. Based on both theoretical analysis and experimental verification, the strengthening mechanisms of the composites were attributed to the synergistic effects of uniform distribution, effective load transfer capability and well-formed multiscale structures of the CFs-GNPs. Most important, the multiscale structure of CFs-GNPs is considered as ideal reinforcements and shows a great potential in the tribological application.