Effect of low melting temperature polyamide fiber-interlaced carbon fiber braid fabric on the mechanical performance and fracture toughness of CFRP laminates

Fracture toughness and epoxy matrix brittleness have been main issues in carbon/epoxy composites. Various studies have been reported to improve the fracture toughness and brittleness of the carbon/epoxy composites. Although conventional method such as toughened epoxy matrix dissolving method, interleaving with a thermoplastic interlayer method, incorporating with a thermoplastic particles method improve the fracture toughness and brittleness of the carbon/epoxy composites, there have been no significant improvement. Therefore, in this study, due to improve the fracture toughness and brittleness of the carbon/epoxy composites, applied the carbon fiber/low melting temperature polyamide fiber co-braid fabric. In addition, the toughened effect of carbon fiber co-braid fabric with low melting temperature polyamide fiber and high melting temperature polyamide fiber were investigated. The carbon/epoxy composites manufactured by carbon fiber/low melting temperature polyamide fiber co-braid fabric, the fracture toughness significantly improved about 293% compared to the pristine specimens.