Online monitoring of surface cracks and delaminations in carbon fiber/epoxy composites using silver nanoparticle based ink

• Main Authors: Till Augustin, Danny Grunert, Hauke H. Langner, Vico Haverkamp, Bodo Fiedler
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-07-01
• Series: Advanced Manufacturing: Polymer & Composites Science
• Subjects: Structural health monitoring; CFRP; ink-jet printing; conductive paths; inter-fiber failures; surface cracks; delaminations
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20550340.2017.1362508

In this study, we present an online-monitoring approach using silver nanoparticle based ink on carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). After production of CFRP plates in a prepreg autoclave process and printing conductive paths on the material, we investigate the conductive paths of printed silver nanoparticle-based ink on CFRP by light microscopy. Mechanical tests with simultaneous electrical resistance measurements demonstrate the possibility to detect particular modes of failure with samples specifically designed to promote inter-fiber failures and delaminations under bending. Delaminations can be detected and localized inside the material by electrical through-thickness measurements and resistance measurements of the conductive paths allow for surface crack detection.