Effect of Temperature on Tensile Properties of Electrospun Nanofibre Interleaved Carbon Composites

ABSTRACT Carbon fiber composites are susceptible to brittle damage modes such as matrix cracking and delamination. The inception and propagation of these invisible damages are responsible for loss in load‐bearing capacity and accelerating environmental degradation. Though electrospun nanofibre interleaved carbon composites have been shown to arrest internal damage development by activating nano and micro‐scale fracture mechanisms, the influence of exposure temperature on their load‐bearing properties and microstructure remains to be investigated. This study is oriented to determine the thermal durability of electrospun nanofibre interleaved carbon composites. Following the fabrication of electrospun nanofibre interleaves, their thermal stability and degradation behavior were established. Durability was determined through tensile testing in tandem with acoustic emission analysis after aging samples at −20°C, 20°C, and 60°C. Results showed that tensile strength of interleaved composites was 10% lower than that of control sample. However, the interleaved composites showed stable strength across all temperature conditions. Modulus declined whereas energy absorption increased with rise in temperature. Upon interleaving, there was a 16% drop in damage events and scale of fracture shifted from tow to ply failure as the temperature rises. Three distinct fracture mechanisms of nanofibre debonding, nanofibre fracture, and pull‐out can be assigned to −20°C, 20°C, and 60°C exposure conditions, respectively.