Constructing Interfacial Path for Enhancing Mechanical and Thermal Performances of Carbon Fiber/Cyanate Ester Resin Composite

Abstract In spite of the rapid development of electronic technology, fabricating heat-conducting polymer matrix composites with light texture and excellent mechanical properties remains an enormous challenge. Herein, carbon fiber reinforced cyanate ester resin matrix composites embedded with manganese dioxide-polyamide 6 interfacial path were swimmingly manufactured. The analysis of chemical structure demonstrates that not only the propitious growth of compact and orderly nano-manganese dioxide but also the uniform graft of polyamide 6 are successfully achieved on the surface of carbon fiber in sequence. The results of the test of mechanical properties indicate that the tensile strength of the final composite is 97.7%, higher than that of the original carbon fiber/cyanate composite. The DMA analysis indicates that the obtained composite is featured with higher elastic modulus and lower mechanical losses. Indeed, the synergistic effect dated back to polyamide 6 and manganese dioxide optimizes the heat resistance and thermal conductivity property of the composite. In particular, the out-plane thermal conductivity of the ultimate composite is 0.97 W/m·K, with an upgrade rate of 106% compared with the original carbon fiber/cyanate composite.