Manufacturing of Light Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Structural Applications

Mentor: Hamid Dalir

Electrospinning is one of the most flexible, economical, and ecologically friendly procedures for manufacturing continuous fibers with diameters ranging from submicron to tens of nanometers. The synthesis and characterization of submicron epoxy-nanofillers composite filaments using an electrospinning approach are described in this study. Normally thermosetting materials like epoxy are very difficult to be electrospun due to their high viscosity and curing pattern. Semi-cured epoxy composites containing various nanofillers (carbon nanotubes and graphene) were investigated and prepared to make electrospun nanofibers for CFRP-based structural applications. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the success in synthesizing greater quantities up to six times the prototype quantity previously generated. Following electrospinning of those greater volume epoxy-nanofiller composites, the size, homogeneity, and consistency of the generated fibers, as well as their other properties, were extensively investigated and assessed.

Group Members

E C

Eric Cumbo

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Engineering and Technology

H J

Hunter Janzen


F M

Fabio Martelli Carpi

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Engineering and Technology

E R

Eduardo Rocha