Effect of Carbon Fiber Coating with PEI-Modified MWCNT on the Mechanical and Impact Properties of Carbon Fiber/ABS Composites: Comparisons of Extruded Pellet and LFT Pellet

Abstract

In the present study, carbon fiber coated with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), which was modified using a cationic polyethyleneimine (PEI), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin were used to prepare extruded pellets and long fiber thermoplastic (LFT) pellets, and then carbon fiber/ABS composites were fabricated by injection molding process. The effect of carbon fiber coating with MWCNT on the fiber length distribution, and mechanical and impact properties of resulting composites was investigated. The mechanical properties and impact resistance of the composite prepared by extruded pellets and LFT pellets containing carbon fiber coated with PEI-modified MWCNT were markedly increased. Compared to the composite made with extruded pellets, the composite made with LFT pellets exhibited highly increased length distribution and aspect ratio of carbon fiber. As a result, they significantly contributed to improve the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of the composite, indicating the most profound property improvement on the Izod impact strength.