Silver Nanowires for Improved Electrical and Optical Properties of Carbon Fiber-reinforced Polymer Composites

Using silver nanowires (AgNWs) as an epoxy resin filler offers the opportunity for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites to have improved electrical and optical properties, such as in applications of lightning strike protection. A three-roll mill is used to embed RTM6 resin with AgNWs that are dispersed in solution. The modified resins are used to make CFRP laminates that are characterized electrically, optically, and mechanically. Sample measurements show the enhanced epoxy resins have an electrical resistance orders of magnitude lower than the pristine sample. The spectrophotometry data indicates the laminates are slightly more reflective as the AgNW content increases. Furthermore, the resin modification does not result in significant changes to the composite's mechanical properties as shown by interlaminar shear strength measurements.