Nanoparticle film reinforcements for high performance aerospace structural prepreg composites

Prepreg composites offer many advantages over other types of composite materials such as low void content, control of fiber volume fraction, control of laminate thickness, and others. Nanoparticles have shown to improve mechanical properties when incorporated into composite materials. Incorporation of nanoparticles into prepreg materials can be very challenging if not done at the prepreg fabrication stage. In this study, a novel method of incorporating nanoparticles into prepreg composite materials was explored. This new method allows for selective reinforcement of the prepreg material at critical areas such as stress concentration locations. Surface abrasion and open hole tensile properties of the composites were measured.