Fig. 1: Schematics for incorporation of carbon nanostructures in laminates for structural health monitoring

Carbon based nanofillers allow improvement of matrix dominated properties as well as creation of multifunctional composites. The current research interest within CMD group is to develop robust methods of introducing carbon nanofillers to promote tougher composites with structural health monitoring capability (Fig. 1). Carbon nanofillers can be incorporated into composite selectively by applying roller with buckypaper film to the prepreg surface (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2: Incorporation of carbon nanostructures using buckypaper onto the glass fiber prepreg using roller slider