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Evaluation of the Piezoresistive Response of GFRP with a Combination of MWCNT and GNP Exposed to Seawater Aging

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Abstract

The purpose of this work was the evaluation of electrical conductivity and piezoresistive response of seawater aged glass fiber/epoxy composites (GF/E) with the incorporation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and their hybrid combination (MWCNT/GNP) at two mixing ratios (7:1 and 3:1). Seawater exposure leads to the phenomenon of moisture absorption in GF/E, which negatively affected their bending properties, causing a higher susceptibility to damage mechanisms related to matrix cracking, fiber/matrix interfacial debonding and delamination. However, the addition of MWCNT/GNP hybrids to the GF/E composites induced a positive effect on the electrical response resulting in improved piezoresistive properties (strain sensitivity) and damage sensing under monotonic flexural loading. The results of piezoresistive response experiments also confirmed excellent strain sensing capabilities under cyclic loading condition for both unaged and aged composites, demonstrating the efficiency of using the hybrid combination of MWCNTs and GNPs for electrical sensing applications of composite structures in seawater aged conditions. It was found that the 3:1 mixing ratio allowed better electrical performance of GF/E composites and piezoresistive capability was preserved even after sea water aging.

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Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

Financial support provided by the “Centro Mexicano de Innovación en Energía del Océano” (CEMIE-O) is acknowledged. Technical assistance by M.Sc. J. Antonio Banderas (from CIDESI) is appreciated.

Centro Mexicano de Innovación en Energía Océano,249795

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Centro de Ingeniería y Desarrollo Industrial, Av. Pie de la Cuesta #702, Col. Desarrollo San Pablo, C.P. 76125, Querétaro, Qro, México

    Eduardo José-Trujillo

  2. Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Epigmenio González 500 Fracc. San Pablo, Querétar, 76130, México

    Carlos Rubio-González

  3. Departamento de Tecnologías Estratégicas y Posgrado, Centro de Ingeniería y Desarrollo Industrial, Av. Pie de la Cuesta #702, Col. Desarrollo San Pablo, C.P. 76125, Querétaro, Qro, México

    Julio Alejandro Rodríguez-González

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  1. Eduardo José-Trujillo
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José-Trujillo, E., Rubio-González, C. & Rodríguez-González, J.A. Evaluation of the Piezoresistive Response of GFRP with a Combination of MWCNT and GNP Exposed to Seawater Aging. Appl Compos Mater 31, 467–488 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-023-10175-z

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