Towards Next Generation Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Perspective on Multifunctionality

Congcomg Luan, Sahitya Movva, Kan (Kevin) Wang, Xinhua Yao, Chuck Zhang, Ben Wang
2019 Functional Composites and Structures  
Polymer composite materials and structures with multiscale additives have great potential applications in various fields due to their outstanding features, such as extraordinary mechanical, thermal, electrical, and other properties. Multifunctionality can be achieved by exploiting these properties for practical applications. Next-generation fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites will have significant secondary functions besides their conventional primary feature-high strengthto-weight ratio.
more » ... A key concept that would enable the large-scale manufacturing and application of multifunctional FRPs is 'design for multifunctionality', which uses material design tools, such as integrated computational materials engineering (ICME), to facilitate innovations in materials. In this review, we examined recent research and studies on novel functions of FRPs and the matrices, reinforcements, and fillers that enable these functions. The functions included in the scope of this study include sensing, actuation, self-healing, heat resistance, thermal insulation/dissipation, electrical isolation/conduction, energy harvesting, electromagnetic shielding, etc. In addition, the design, modeling, and manufacturing processes of these functional FRPs were discussed. This review aims to serve as a collection of knowledge that supports the ICME of next-generation FRPs and a catalog of function enablers from the novel material developers' perspective. ]. Young's modulus of reinforced polymer composites with different additives weight fraction is shown in figure 1. In the following sections, strain sensing and damage sensing are discussed, followed by a study of actuation and intrinsic and extrinsic self-healing functions. Sensing function Sensing of the composites and structures is usually based on its internal intrinsically smart material, which has the capability of sensing its own strain or damage without the need for embedded/attached or remote sensors. It can also be called a self-sensing composite. A self-sensing polymer composite usually consists of two components: functional fillers and the polymer matrix. Fillers also act as a reinforcement for polymer composites. Many types of fillers have been proven to be effective at producing self-sensing reinforced polymer composites, such as carbon fibers, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and carbon black. There are also hybrid fillers that have preferable sensing properties, such as graphene-coated glass fibers, nickel-coated carbon fiber, hybrid carbon Funct. Compos. Struct. 1 (2019) 042002
doi:10.1088/2631-6331/ab47f9 fatcat:mt5kugx4ojcifofuun7q6lciea