Improving mechanical and tribological properties of carbon fabric/resin laminated composites by carbon fiber powder

Abstract Carbon fabric/resin laminated composites (CFRC) are extensively used in aerospace, transportation, and other fields owing to their superiorities of lightweight, high strength, and convenient integral molding. Therefore, strong interlaminar binding and prominent wear resistance are urgent requirements for avoiding premature failure of laminated materials in harsh working environments. To elevate the superficial wear resistance and interlaminar bonding strength of composites simultaneously, the modified composites were obtained by introducing carbon fiber powder (CFP) with different densities on the surface of the composites and between layers. The experimental results indicate that CFP can be evenly distributed in the interlaminar resin enrichment zone of the sample (CFRC‐40) when the deposition density is 40 g/m 2 . Consequently, CFRC‐40 presents optimal thermal conductivity owing to better heat transfer bridges between layers of the composite established by CFP. At the same time, the mechanical properties such as the tensile, impact, and interlaminar shear strengths of CFRC‐40 are improved by 42.8%, 10.2%, and 8.5%, respectively, compared with the original CFRC, which are attributed to the absorption of crack propagation energy and the inhibition of crack propagation by CFP. Furthermore, the dynamic friction coefficient maintains at a high level after introducing CFP with a density of 40 g/m 2 , while the wear rate significantly decreases by 61.2% from 12.99 × 10 −14 m 3 (N m) −1 to 5.04 × 10 −14 m 3 (N m) −1 . This study proposes an innovative strategy to improve the interlaminar bonding of carbon fabric/resin laminated composite, which is conducive to obtaining composite with excellent mechanical and tribological properties. Highlights A facile and effectual method was adopted to introduce carbon fiber powder (CFP) into the interlamination and surface of the composites simultaneously. The mechanical properties and abrasive resistance of the composites were obviously strengthened by regulating the content and distribution of CFP. CFP at a certain scale, could not only hinder the propagation of cracks but also alleviate the surface wear and extend the service life of composites.