Isotropic and anisotropic prepregs

The manufacture and use of carbon materials in prepregs is one of the most required areas in the industry. The prepregs are a woven material impregnated with a polymeric binder. The “classic” version of the prepreg is a carbon fiber (CF) fabric impregnated with epoxy resin. Carbon plastics for the aircraft and aerospace construction, automotive, shipbuilding, and other industries are obtained of these prepregs. Adding INFRA carbon nanotubes in polymer binder increases the strength of the final product by as much as 70%, reduce its fragility, and allow for successful use in aircraft, aerospace, shipbuilding, and automotive industries, electronics and electrical appliances, household appliances. Nanomodification of prepregs allows improving material properties by 30–50%: weight optimization, product productivity, to obtain a composite material with good mechanical properties — fatigue load, tensile strength, stiffness, good aging, etc. By changing the orientation (laying) of the prepreg — isotropic or unidirectional, it is possible to influence the specific mechanical characteristics of the composite. Anisotropic (unidirectional) composites have predominant mechanical properties in one direction. Isotropic materials have the same properties in all directions. Unlike isotropic polymer nanocomposites, anisotropic nanocomposites possess a set of special properties: its mechanical characteristics along the anisotropy axes are higher than in isotropic materials and it has the property of damping loads; the electrical and thermal conductivity along the anisotropy axes is much higher. For example, prepregs with CNTs can be successfully used to manufacture parts that are used in airplanes, helicopters and other aerospace vehicles, as well as in shipbuilding. It significantly lightens the weight of the structure but at the same time increases stiffness and strength.