Zhiwu Xu , You Wu , Zhongwei Ma , Junjie Gao , Jiuchun Yan , Zhengwei Li
{"title":"Enhance interfacial bonding of glass-fiber-reinforced PPS resistance welded joints: mechanisms of surface modification on Ti mesh heating element and ultrasonic assistance","authors":"Zhiwu Xu , You Wu , Zhongwei Ma , Junjie Gao , Jiuchun Yan , Zhengwei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109587","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109587","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Weak interfacial bonding between the polymer matrix and the metallic heating element (HE) limits further improvement in the lap shear strength (LSS) of resistance-welded joints of glass fiber-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (GF/PPS). To address this, pure titanium (Ti) meshes modified by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and γ-aminopropyltriethoxy silane coupling agent (SCA) coupling agent were used as the HE to establish both micromechanical interlocking and molecular bonding between the dissimilar materials. The MAO process generated TiO<sub>2</sub>-based surface layers containing microvoids and tunnel-like structures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that hydrogen bonds formed between the –NH<sub>2</sub> groups of the SCA and the C-S bonds of PPS. Simultaneously, interdiffusion occurred between the polysiloxane layer and PPS, resulting in a molecular chain interdiffusion layer (MCIL) at the bonding interface. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses demonstrated a synergistic effect between MAO and SCA: MAO increased the hydroxyl group density on the Ti mesh, facilitating SCA grafting, which subsequently elevated surface free energy and improved the wetting and spreading behavior of PPS. This enhanced both mechanical interlocking and interfacial compatibility. Ultrasonic assistance further intensified the strengthening effects of MAO and SCA. The highest LSS of GF/PPS joints, 27.2 MPa, was achieved using Ti mesh treated with both MAO and SCA, representing the highest reported value to date.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109587"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146035210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CNT reinforced Cu-based composites: Dispersion, interface and machine learning-assisted collaborative optimization strategies","authors":"XianFeng Zhao, ChangChun Ge","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The intrinsic trade-off between tensile strength and electrical conductivity remains the central obstacle in developing high-performance copper matrix composites. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer remarkable reinforcement to mechanical properties but inevitably compromise conductivity. Despite advances in dispersion techniques and interfacial engineering, achieving efficient synergistic optimization of both properties is still constrained by the trial-and-error nature of conventional approaches. This review highlights recent progress in CNTs/Cu composites, emphasizing dispersion control, interfacial structure design, and strategies for balancing mechanical and electrical performance. Particular attention is given to emerging machine learning (ML)-assisted methodologies that integrate experimental and simulation data to unravel complex multi-parameter interactions. Among these, Physics-Informed Machine Learning (Physics-Informed ML) demonstrates strong potential to overcome performance bottlenecks, providing a transferable pathway for multi-property optimization in CNTs/Cu and other <span>CNT</span>-reinforced composites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109565"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Gazzola , P.A. Carraro , D. Gibhardt , M. Walter , B. Fiedler , M. Quaresimin , M. Zappalorto
{"title":"Damage monitoring of GFRP laminates via electrical measurements: Experiments and predictions","authors":"A. Gazzola , P.A. Carraro , D. Gibhardt , M. Walter , B. Fiedler , M. Quaresimin , M. Zappalorto","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109588","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109588","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, an experimental investigation is presented on the early-stage fatigue damage of conductive glass/epoxy cross-ply laminates. The study is specifically designed to generate a comprehensive and consistent experimental dataset suitable for the validation of an analytical model previously developed by the authors.</div><div>Fatigue tests were performed under controlled loading conditions, while transverse matrix cracking in the 90° plies was continuously monitored together with stiffness degradation and changes in electrical resistance. These measurements provide a detailed dataset that enables correlation between mechanical damage and electrical response. The data were then used to validate the analytical model developed by the authors, which predicts stiffness degradation as a function of the resistance change induced by transverse cracking.</div><div>The good agreement between model predictions and experimental observations confirms the suitability of the adopted experimental approach and supports the use of electrical resistance measurements as a quantitative tool for model-based assessment of early-stage damage in conductive GFRP laminates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109588"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146035214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jian Wei , Haoxiang Wang , Shenghua Shang , Tian Jian Lu , Jiagui Liu , Jian Deng , Han Meng , Jinling Gao
{"title":"Ballistic behavior of bi-axial pre-tensioned textile-laminate composite structure","authors":"Jian Wei , Haoxiang Wang , Shenghua Shang , Tian Jian Lu , Jiagui Liu , Jian Deng , Han Meng , Jinling Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109567","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109567","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposed a novel impact-resistant composite structure integrating bi-axial pre-tensioned aramid fabric with composite laminates and experimentally investigated its ballistic response. A custom fixture was designed to ensure stable specimen clamping and enable real-time bi-axial preload monitoring and adjustment. Using a single-stage light gas gun combined with high-speed photography, the dynamic deformation and failure processes under high-velocity impact were captured. An in-plane scale-based method was developed to measure back face signature, facilitating characterization of out-of-plane deformation, transverse wave propagation, and residual projectile velocity. Post-impact analysis via optical macrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed macro-<em>meso</em>-micro multiscale failure morphologies. Results indicated that, unlike conventional monolithic fabrics or composites, the proposed structure exhibited four distinct failure modes under ballistic impact, dependent on preload and impact velocity. Three critical velocities were identified, corresponding to the penetration resistance of the aramid laminate, the perforation resistance of the aramid fabric, and the overall penetration resistance of the composite structure. Furthermore, both the ballistic limit and energy absorption initially increase and then decrease with increasing preload, reaching peak values of 458.45 m/s and 211.23 J, respectively, at a preload of 500 N. Preload was also found to effectively reduce out-of-plane deformation during high-velocity impact while accelerating transverse wave propagation, thereby enhancing energy dissipation efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109567"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aromatic π–π interaction–driven sizing strategy for enhanced interfacial adhesion in carbon fiber/PPESK thermoplastic composites","authors":"Yaoxin Xie, Yining Wang, Yu Deng, Zhimin Wang, Wenhui Zhou, Cheng Liu, Xigao Jian, Yousi Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109551","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109551","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTPs) often exhibit limited mechanical performance due to weak interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers and the thermoplastic matrix. In this work, a series of heteroaromatic poly(arylene ether ketone)s (PPFEKs) were synthesized by varying the molar ratio between 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phthalazin-1(2H)-one (DHPZ) and 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene (BPF) to serve as sizing agents for desized carbon fibers. Experimental characterizations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations jointly revealed that PPFEKs strongly adsorbed on carbon fiber surfaces through π–π stacking interactions. The optimized formulation (BPF:DHPZ = 7:3) significantly enhanced interfacial bonding, yielding flexural and interlaminar shear strengths of 1749 MPa and 81.9 MPa—43 % and 47 % higher than the desized composite, respectively. Raman microspectroscopy provided direct spectroscopic evidence of π–π electronic coupling at the interface. This study establishes a π–π interaction–driven sizing strategy for efficient interfacial engineering, offering a practical and scalable route to improve the mechanical performance of CFRTPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109551"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hybridising self-reinforced polypropylene with flax fibres","authors":"Paul Woody , Jonas Van Damme , Yentl Swolfs","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Self-reinforced polypropylene (SRPP) is a lightweight and tough material, but its relatively low stiffness limits the number of potential applications. Hybridisation, whereby an optimised volume fraction (V<sub>f</sub>) of low elongation (LE) fibre is used to reinforce the ductile polypropylene (PP), is a method used for improving initial stiffness whilst retaining a pseudo-ductile failure. However, as the V<sub>f</sub> of LE fibre within the hybrid is increased, the ability to retain a ductile failure mode diminishes. This work assesses whether twisting PP tapes to form a PP yarn and weaving them using a novel 3D angle interlocking weave, can be beneficial for maintaining the pseudo-ductile response at greater V<sub>f</sub>’s of LE reinforcement (in this case aligned flax fibres). A comparison is made with hybrids manufactured using flat tape weaves (twill 2/2) with tensile strength, penetration impact resistance and interlayer bond strength assessed. With a hybrid flax V<sub>f</sub> of 11%, the initial stiffness of the 3D woven SRPP was increased by 165%, whilst retaining 87% of the baseline SRPP strength and 98% of the failure strain. This work successfully demonstrates the advantages of employing a novel 3D angle-interlocking weave to produce interlayer SRPP composites reinforced with flax fibres.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109553"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clément Mugemana , Carlos I. Cardona , Samet Ozyigit , Jianqun Hao , Patrick Grysan , Doriane Delfrari , Reiner Dieden , Pierre Verge , Alexander S. Shaplov , David Ruch , Carlos A. Fuentes
{"title":"Enhancing interfacial adhesion and self-healing in PMMA-MAA glass fibre composites via Zn(II)-acetate complexation","authors":"Clément Mugemana , Carlos I. Cardona , Samet Ozyigit , Jianqun Hao , Patrick Grysan , Doriane Delfrari , Reiner Dieden , Pierre Verge , Alexander S. Shaplov , David Ruch , Carlos A. Fuentes","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Infusible thermoplastics based on acrylic resins have gained increasing interest in fibre-reinforced composite manufacturing, primarily due to their low viscosity (100 mPa), enabling efficient fibre impregnation and facilitates processing at low temperatures (<100 °C). Their compatibility with UV and thermal curing system offers further manufacturing flexibility. To integrate self-healing ability, a UV-curable acrylic resin incorporating Zn(II)-acetate complexes as reversible cross-links was developed. Self-healing performance at the fibre–matrix interface was quantitatively evaluated using a novel single-fibre pull-out test methodology employing, real-time optical crack monitoring and paused healing cycles combined with µ-CT tomography for 3D interfacial validation. This approach demonstrated up to 95% recovery of the apparent interfacial shear strength (IFSS). Functionalizing glass fibres with Zn(OAc)<sub>2</sub> significantly improved baseline interfacial adhesion (35% IFSS increase) while maintaining self-healing capability, outperforming conventional epoxy/acrylic sizings. Structural glass fibre-reinforced composites were manufactured using the Vacuum-Assisted Resin Infusion Molding (VARIM) process, and the healing effect of Zn(OAc)<sub>2</sub> complexes was demonstrated by achieving an 85% recovery of the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) after delamination and subsequent thermal healing treatment. This work presents a scalable approach to integrating self-healing functionality into acrylic-based composites for enhanced structural durability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109578"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rui Cao , Xiaoqiang Wang , Zhongliang Yu , Chaonan Cong , Xiaoding Wei , Huiqi Ren
{"title":"Modeling pseudo-ductile failure in hybrid fiber composites using an FFT-based solver with non-periodic boundary conditions","authors":"Rui Cao , Xiaoqiang Wang , Zhongliang Yu , Chaonan Cong , Xiaoding Wei , Huiqi Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2026.109599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-based micromechanical solvers are widely recognized for their computational efficiency, yet their classical formulations naturally favor periodic boundary conditions (PBCs). To simulate the mechanical response of hybrid fiber-reinforced laminates under realistic non-periodic constraints, this work implements a 2D FFT-based numerical framework adapted from established displacement decomposition strategies. By employing a Galerkin projection with numerical integration and a minimal one-pixel auxiliary layer, the method efficiently handles mixed Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions within the spectral solver context. The accuracy of this implementation is validated through comparison with Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations, showing excellent agreement in stress fields. The primary contribution of this study lies in utilizing this adapted framework to investigate the pseudo-ductile failure mechanisms of thin-ply carbon/glass hybrid laminates. The simulations successfully capture the experimentally observed transitions in damage modes, from intralaminar fragmentation to interfacial delamination, as the carbon ply thickness varies. Overall, this work demonstrates that this adapted FFT-based approach offers a fast and scalable alternative for modeling complex progressive damage in hybrid composites, providing valuable insights for the design of damage-tolerant architectures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109599"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiyang Su , Weixi Gao , Sepideh Sadat Hosseini Noorabadi , Yihao Li , Patrick Ryan Galligan , Yapeng Chen , Xingyi Zhang , Jinglei Yang
{"title":"Thermal induced anisotropic deformation of DCPD gels during frontal polymerization","authors":"Xiyang Su , Weixi Gao , Sepideh Sadat Hosseini Noorabadi , Yihao Li , Patrick Ryan Galligan , Yapeng Chen , Xingyi Zhang , Jinglei Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109524","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109524","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As an emerging low-energy-consumption and rapid-processing technique, frontal polymerization (FP) has garnered increasing attention due to its significant potential in free-standing three-dimensional printing, advanced composite manufacturing etc. However, effects from thermal expansion, chemical shrinkage, and nonuniform reaction propagation during the FP process inevitably generate gradient deformations at the FP front, adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the final processed components. To elucidate the intrinsic deformation mechanisms of polymer materials during FP and optimize their mechanical performance after polymerization, we employ a representative dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) gel system for investigation. In this study, simultaneous temperature and strain measurement revealed anisotropic deformation patterns of DCPD gels during FP. Meanwhile, experimental and numerical studies investigated the strain evolution of DCPD gels during both single and multi-point initiation of FP, revealing that the maximum compressive strain in uncured regions gradually decreased with increasing pre-curing degree but increased with rising width. Finally, mechanical characterization results show that, as the pre-curing degree increases, both compressive and tensile performances of polydicyclopentadiene are progressively enhanced, with yield strengths under tension and compression at 77 K significantly exceeding those at room temperature. These findings provide an experimental and theoretical foundation for high-performance material fabrication based on FP of gel-state systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109524"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of stacking sequence on the electromagnetic shielding and mechanical properties of jute/graphite reinforced polylactic acid composites","authors":"Hongyang Li, Jiahua Yang, Ni Wang, Lan Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109550","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109550","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Imparting electromagnetic (EM) shielding properties to the natural fiber reinforced composites is becoming necessary when they are applied in the signal transmission area. In this study, four types of jute/graphite hybrid fiber reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites and two types of pure fiber composites were designed, where jute and graphite fiber appeared in the form of jute fabric and graphite felt. As the graphite fiber is conductive, the four types of hybrid fiber composites and the pure graphite fiber composite were tested to have adequate EM shielding effectiveness. The composite with graphite felts as the top and bottom layers and jute fabrics as the two middle layers (GJJG composite) achieved the highest EM shielding effectiveness of 54.40 dB, indicating greater distance between the two conductive layers led to higher EM shielding effectiveness. Graphic models were built for analyzing the process of EM wave passing through the composites. GJJG still showed the optimum overall mechanical performance and its after-fracture mode exhibited different fiber-resin bonding behaviors from different fibers. The novel contribution of this research is providing the effect of fiber stacking sequences on EM shielding and mechanical properties, which is new and significantly important in natural fiber composite area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":282,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 109550"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}