Research on core‐shell nanofiber self‐healing composites for structural applications
Hongwei Wang, Haopeng Cai, Boxue Chen, Chi Mao
Abstract
Abstract In this paper, an intelligent self‐healing carbon fiber composite based on core‐shell nanofiber for structural applications was introduced. The self‐healing epoxy resin and curing agent were encapsulated in polyacrylonitrile by coaxial electrospinning to form two‐component core‐shell nanofibers. The core‐shell nanofibers were distributed between the carbon fiber layers, and the mechanical strength of the composites was improved by changing the interlaminar distribution of the core‐shell nanofibers. The bending test showed that the bending strength could be increased by 5.96%. The best self‐healing conditions were determined by curing kinetic analysis and bending test. The results showed that the healing efficiency could reach 110.12% after self‐healing at 120°C for 1 h. The release of self‐healing agent and the filling of microcracks were clearly observed by scanning electron microscope. The addition of core‐shell nanofibers can prolong the service life and improve the mechanical strength of the composites, which has a potential application prospect in structural applications.