Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are of particular interest to the field of nano-reinforced composites since they possess superior mechanical, fracture, thermal, and barrier properties. Due to their geometrical characteristics, high aspect ratio (AR)/specific surface area (SSA) and their planar structure, GNPs are considered as high-potential nanosized fillers for improving performance of composites. The present study investigates the effect of SSA of GNPs on fracture properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs). For this reason, two nano-doped CFRPs were produced by using two types of GNPs (C300 and C500) with different SSAs, 300 and 500 m²/g, respectively. Both types of GNPs, at the same content of 0.5 wt%, were added into the epoxy matrix of composites by applying a three-roll milling technique. The nanomodified matrix was used for the manufacturing of prepregs, while the final composite laminates were fabricated through the vacuum-bag method. Mode I and II interlaminar fracture tests were carried out to determine the interlaminar fracture toughness G_IC and G_IIC of the composites, respectively. According to the results, the toughening effect of C500 GNPs was the strongest, resulting in increases of 25% in G_IC and 33% in G_IIC compared with the corresponding unmodified composites. The activation of the absorption mechanisms of C500 contributed to this outcome, which was confirmed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses conducted in the fracture surfaces of specimens. On the other hand, C300 GNPs, due to disability to be dispersed uniformly into the epoxy matrix, did not influence the fracture properties of CFRPs, indicating that probably there is a threshold in SSA which is necessary to achieve for improving the fracture properties of CFRPs.

Ceramic-coated materials used in different engineering sectors are the focus of world-wide interest and have generated a need for inspection techniques that detect very small structural anomalies. Non-destructive testing is increasingly being used to evaluate coating thickness and to test for coating flaws. The main pros of non-destructive testing is that the tested object remains intact and available for continued use afterward. This paper reports on an integrated, non-destructive testing approach that combines infrared thermography and acousto-ultrasonics to evaluate advanced aerospace sandwich structure materials with the aim of exploring any potential for detecting defects of more than one type. Combined, these two techniques successfully detected fabrication defects, including inclusions and material loss.

The objective of the present study is the assessment of the impact performance and the concluded thermal conductivity of epoxy resin reinforced by layered Graphene Nano-Platelets (GNPs). The two types of used GNPs have different average thicknesses, <4 nm for Type 1 and 9–12 nm for Type 2. Graphene-based polymers containing different GNP loading contents (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 15 wt.%) were developed by using the three-roll mill technique. Thermo-mechanical (Tg), impact tests and thermal conductivity measurements were performed to evaluate the effect of GNPs content and type on the final properties of nano-reinforced polymers. According to the results, thinner GNPs were proven to be more promising in all studied properties when compared to thicker GNPs of the same weight content. More specifically, the glass transition temperature of nano-reinforced polymers remained almost unaffected by the GNPs inclusion. Regarding the impact tests, it was found that the impact resistance of the doped materials increased up to 50% when 0.5 wt.% Type 1 GNPs were incorporated within the polymer. Finally, the thermal conductivity of doped polymers with 15 wt.% GNPs showed a 130% enhancement over the reference material.

In this work, UV-curable resin poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) was reinforced with three different types of nanofillers: pristine graphene (G), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and a hybrid of MWNTs and graphene 70/30 in mass ratio (Hyb). PEGDA was mixed homogenously with the nanofiller oligomer by shear mixing and then photopolymerized, affording thin, stable films. The thermomechanical properties of the afforded nanocomposites indicated the superior reinforcing ability of pristine graphene compared with MWNTs and an intermediate behavior of the hybrid.