Improving the impact damage resistance of composite laminates using CNF/Z-pin multi-scale toughening

This paper investigated the effect of CNF (carbon nanofibre)/Z-pin multi-scale synergistic reinforcement on improving the impact damage resistance of carbon fiber-reinforced composite laminates. The out-of-plane low-velocity impact response of unreinforced, CNF-reinforced, Z-pin-reinforced and CNF/Z-pin multi-scale synergistic reinforced laminates were investigated. The use of CNF concurrently with Z-pin can not only eliminate the incapability of Z-pin in improving the damage resistance at low energy (damage initiation) but can also synergistically maximize the improvement of the impact resistance at high energy (damage propagation). At 50 J impact energy, the damaged area of CNF, Z-pin and CNF/Z-pin reinforced laminates were reduced by 10.3%, 29.5% and 34.8%.