Fabrication of heat-storable CFRP by incorporating trans-1,4-polybutadiene with the application of the electrodeposition resin molding method

Abstract This work presents a method to fabricate the heat-storable CFRP, a multifunctional composite that combines strength, lightweight and heat storability. For mobile electric devices, thermal management system using phase change material (PCM) has been developed. However, as long as the PCM changes to liquid phase, it is difficult to reduce the weight since the sealed container is indispensable. Hence, the authors have focused trans-1,4-polybutadiene (TPBD), which is crystalline polymer that accumulates heat by crystal structure transition in solid phase. In this study, TPBD was incorporated into CFRP. To avoid exposing TPBD to high-temperature and high-pressure processes, the electrodeposition resin molding (ERM) method was applied. That is, a non-crimp carbon fiber fabric (NCF) was immersed in the electrodeposition solution containing epoxy polymers in which the pulverized TPBD was dispersed. Applying a current, resin was deposited and impregnated between carbon fibers. Simultaneously, TPBD was incorporated to obtain heat-storable CFRP.