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Carbon Nanotube Enhanced Aerospace Composite Materials pp 267–336Cite as

Improved Damage Tolerance Properties of Aerospace Structures by the Addition of Carbon Nanotubes

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Part of the book series: Solid Mechanics and Its Applications ((SMIA,volume 188))

Abstract

The potential use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aerospace structures is considered in this chapter. Various studies are presented on how carbon nanotubes may be the driving force of a new generation of aerospace structures with superior damage tolerance properties, which in turn will lead to novel composite structures for the aerospace industry. This chapter examines the inclusion of CNTs in aerospace grade resins and their reinforcing mechanisms. The conclusion reached is that the main reinforcing mechanisms of carbon nanotubes are: fibre breakage, fibre pull-out, crack bridging and crazing. These are responsible for the improvement of the mechanical properties of composite materials and their structures. In other words, the use of carbon nanotubes in aerospace composite structures has been proven to increase fracture toughness, impact strength, post-impact properties and the fatigue life of composites, all these attributes making them more damage tolerant. Finally, a new generation of fibres and fabrics with CNTs grafted or grown on them are presented. They are expected to play a key role in evolution of aerospace composite structures, overcoming any processing issues that have risen due to high CNT-polymer viscosities.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cytec Engineered Materials, LL13 9UZ, Wrexham, UK

    Petros Karapappas

  2. Huntsman Advanced Materials, Basel, 4057, Switzerland

    Panayota Tsotra

Authors
  1. Petros Karapappas
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  2. Panayota Tsotra
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petros Karapappas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45100, Greece

    A. Paipetis

  2. , Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, Patras, 26500, Greece

    V. Kostopoulos

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Karapappas, P., Tsotra, P. (2013). Improved Damage Tolerance Properties of Aerospace Structures by the Addition of Carbon Nanotubes. In: Paipetis, A., Kostopoulos, V. (eds) Carbon Nanotube Enhanced Aerospace Composite Materials. Solid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 188. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4246-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4246-8_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-4245-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-4246-8

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