Unidirectional carbon-fiber prepreg with embedded sacrificial fibers for Three-dimensional microvascular network

Sang Yup Kim, Stephen J. Pety, Nancy R. Sottos, Scott R. White

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Unidirectional carbon-fiber/epoxy prepreg with embedded sacrificial fibers was manufactured and used to fabricate microvascular fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. A laboratory scale prepregger was designed and built for the continuous processing of resin impregnation, incorporation of sacrificial fibers, and fiber winding. The sacrificial fibers were annealed at elevated temperature during the prepregging process to obtain a good alignment with the neighboring carbon-fibers. A laminated FRP composite was manufactured from the prepreg by a hot-pressing technique. Sacrificial fibers from the separate lamina were fused due to the compaction and temperature of hot-pressing process. Three-dimensional microvascular networks were revealed within a laminated composite when the lattice of sacrificial fibers was vaporized at 200 °C. This is the first demonstration of multi-dimensional microvascular networks embedded within an FRP composite using a prepreg processing technique.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication32nd Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites 2017
EditorsJohnathan Goodsell, Wenbin Yu, R. Byron Pipes
PublisherDEStech Publications Inc.
Pages1890-1895
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781510853065
StatePublished - 2017
Event32nd Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites 2017 - West Lafayette, United States
Duration: Oct 23 2017Oct 25 2017

Publication series

Name32nd Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites 2017
Volume3

Other

Other32nd Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWest Lafayette
Period10/23/1710/25/17

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ceramics and Composites

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