Smart coatings of epoxy based CNTs designed to meet practical expectations in aeronautics

Abstract A smart coating exhibiting self-diagnostic capability is designed to meet industrial requirements in aeronautics. The coating made of epoxy-based carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been applied on industrial Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRPs) currently employed in aeronautics. The correlations between mechanical strain and electrical properties of coated CFRPs highlights the feasibility in manufacturing CFRPs having integrated high sensitivity in providing an effective real-time structural health monitoring. The reliability of the developed CFRPs, in the normal operational temperature range of aircrafts, opens new perspectives in the field of self-responsive structures in aeronautics. Self-responsive panels can simultaneously act as sensor and structural element.