Impact behaviour of carbon epoxy composite with PAN nanofiber reinforcement

Abstract

This study presents an experimental and analytical investigation into the impact behavior of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber interleaved carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Experimental testing was conducted using a single-stage gas gun, with photogrammetry employed to capture the high-speed impact dynamics. An energy-based analytical model was developed to identify dominant energy absorption mechanisms during impact. Results indicate that the nano-interleaved CFRP (Nano) exhibited superior ballistic performance compared to the baseline composite (Control). The ballistic limit increased from 70 m/s for Control to 80 m/s for Nano, a 14% improvement along with a 24% increase in energy absorption per unit areal density. Damage analysis revealed distinct failure patterns between the two. The analytical model accurately predicted energy absorption contributions: tensile failure of primary fibers (37%), secondary fiber deformation (33%), delamination (14%), and matrix cracking (15%) in Control; versus secondary fiber deformation (33%), delamination (26%), matrix cracking (25%), and minimal tensile failure (15%) in Nano. The strong correlation between experimental and analytical results confirms that PAN nanofiber interleaving significantly enhances the ballistic properties of CFRP, offering promising potential for future advancements in impact-resistant composite materials.