Effect of electrophoretic deposition of carbon nanotubes on the tensile behaviors of carbon fiber tow

The effect of carbon nanotubes introduced by electrophoretic deposition on the tensile behavior of carbon fiber tow was investigated. As-received and heat-treated carbon fiber tows that deposited with carbon nanotubes and their counterparts were tested under monotonous tensile loading. Morphology and presence state of carbon nanotubes on the surface of carbon fiber tows were observed for determining the role of carbon nanotubes. Results showed that tensile properties of carbon fiber tow were not damaged by the electrophoretic deposition process. Due to the uniformly distributed carbon nanotubes network on the surface of carbon fiber tow, the fracture of filaments were obviously constrained by carbon nanotubes instead of instantaneous separation. What’s more, carbon nanotubes exhibited a stronger confining ability for heat-treated carbon fiber tow and improved their tensile properties significantly.