Abstract
Carbon aerogels have promising potential in increasing the mechanical and physical properties of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer(CFRP) laminates due to the possession of unique 3D porous structure at nanoscale and high specific surface. This study used three kinds of carbon aerogels which are different in pore size to fabricate carbon aerogel/epoxy composites and carbon aerogel/epoxy/carbon fiber laminates by using mechanical stirring and ultrasonication in process. This study was aimed at investigating the mechanical and physical effects on epoxy matrix and epoxy/carbon fiber laminates by adding different propotions of carbon aerogels.The experimental results indicate that the tensile properties and impact strength of epoxy matrix are propotional to the adding propotions and also the electrical and thermal conductivities of the epoxy/carbon fiber laminates. The overall mechanical properties are the best when adding 0.3wt% carbon aerogels and NO4 is the most outstanding one in mechanical and physical properties among three types of carbon aerogels. Morphologies of the fracture surfaces of carbon aerogel/epoxy composites and carbon aerogel/epoxy/carbon fiber laminates are observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to check and discuss its interface condition and fracture mechanism. Keyword:Carbon aerogel; Composite laminates; Mechanical properties; Physical properties.