Title:
Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Carbon Nanotubes-Nanofibers Composites
Author(s):
Joshua Hoheneder, Ismael Flores-Vivian and Konstantin Sobolev
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
335
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
27-36
Keywords:
Composites, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, electrical conductivity, flexural strength, polyvinyl alcohol fibers.
DOI:
10.14359/51720213
Date:
9/20/2019
Abstract:
Fiber additions in portland cement composites is a regular practice for crack prevention and for increasing the flexural strength. In this research, fiber-reinforced composites (FRC) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers and carbon nanofibers (CNF) or carbon nanotubes (CNT) were investigated. Specimens were tested to measure their flexural strength, water absorption and electrical conductivity in water or sodium chloride solution. It was found that the developed composites, depending on applied stress and exposure to chloride solutions, exhibit some electrical conductivity. These dependencies can be characterized by piezoresistive and chemo-resistive coefficients demonstrating that the material possesses self-sensing capabilities. The sensitivity to strain, crack formation, and chloride solutions can be enhanced by incorporating small amounts of CNF or CNT into a composite structure. Conducted research has demonstrated a strong dependency of electrical properties of the composite on crack formation in moist environments. The developed procedure is scalable for industrial application in concrete structures that require nondestructive stress monitoring, integrity under high service loads and stability in harsh environments.
Related References:
Chacko, R. M., Banthia, N. & Mufti, A. A., 2007. Carbon-fiber-reinforced Cement-based Sensors. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 34(3), pp. 284-290.
Chung, D., 2002. Piezoresistive cement-based materials for strain sensing. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 13(9), pp. 599-609.
Fu, X. & Chung, D., 1995. Contact electrical resistivity between cement and carbon fiber: its decrease with increasing bond strength and its increase during fiber pull-out. Cement and Concrete Research, 25(7), pp. 1391-1396.
Hoheneder, J. et al., 2015. The performance of stress-sensing smart fiber reinforced composites in moist and sodium chloride environments. Composites: Part B, Volume 73, p. 89–95.
Hou, T. C. & Lynch, J. P., 2009. Electrical Impedance Tomographic Methods for Sensing Strain Fields and Crack Damage in Cementitious Structures. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 20(11), pp. 1363-1379.
Li, J., Suo, J. & Deng, R., 2009. Structure, Mechanical, and Swelling Behaviors of Poly(vinyl Alcohol)/SiO2 Hybrid Membranes. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 29(4), pp. 618-629.
Li, J., Suo, J. P. & Deng, R., 2010. Structure, Mechanical, and Swelling Behaviors of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/SiO(2) Hybrid Membranes. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 29(4), pp. 618-629.
Metaxa, Z., Konsta-Gdoutos, M. & Shah, S., 2010. Mechanical Properties and Nanostructure of Cement-Based Materials Reinforced with Carbon Nanofibers and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Microfibers. ACI SP-270-10, Volume 270, pp. 115-124.
Ozyurt, N., Woo, L. Y., Mason, T. & Shahet, S. P., 2006. Monitoring fiber dispersion in fiber-reinforced cementitious materials: Comparison of AC-impedance spectroscopy and image analysis. Aci Materials Journal, 103(5), pp. 340-347.
Wang, D., Ji, W.-X., Li, Z.-C. & Chen, L., 2006. A Biomimetic “Polysoap” for Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Dispersion. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128(20), pp. 6556-6557.
Wang, W., Wu, S. & Dai, H., 2006. Fatigue Behavior and Life Prediction of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete under Cyclic Flexural Loading. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 434(1-2), pp. 347-351.
Wen, S. & Chung, D., 2001. Effect of stress on the electric polarization in cement. Cement and Concrete Research, 31(2), pp. 291-295.
Wen, S. & Chung, D., 2007. Electrical-resistance-based damage self-sensing in carbon fiber reinforced cement. Carbon, 45(4), pp. 710-716.