Reinforcements of CFRP laminates through polymer nanofibers produced by means of electrospinning process.

In the work polymeric electrospun nanofibers are used as interleaving filler placed between adjacent plies of a CFRP laminate in order to study the behavior of the composite material under Mode II ENF mechanical tests (End Notched Flexure, ASTM 7246). Influence of nanofibrous interlayer is investigated by comparing absorbed energy and bending stiffness respect to conventional CFRP laminates. Laminates are made of epoxy resin/carbon fiber 0/90 woven prepreg; nanofiber mats are manufactured using electrospun Nylon 6,6. For considered test (quasi-static one), one nanofibrous layer is placed in specimen’s midplane. ENF tests reveal that the nanofibrous mats strongly contribute to improve bending stiffness before the material crisis (13,3% of increment) and a measurable increment of the maximum mechanical energy that can be absorbed by the material during the crack propagation (27,4% of increment) is registered.