Electrical behavior of carbon fiber polymer-matrix composites in the through-thickness direction

The electrical behavior of continuous carbon fiber epoxy-matrix composites in the through-thickness direction was studied by measuring the contact electrical resistivity (DC) of the interlaminar interface in the through-thickness direction. The contact resistivity was found to decrease with increasing curing pressure and to be higher for unidirectional than crossply composites. The lower the contact resistivity, the greater was the extent of direct contact between fibers of adjacent laminae. The activation energy for electrical conduction in the through-thickness direction was found to increase with increasing curing pressure and to be lower for unidirectional than crossply composites. The higher the activation energy, the greater was the residual interlaminar stress. Apparent negative electrical resistance was observed, quantified, and controlled through composite engineering. Its mechanism involves electrons traveling in the unexpected direction relative to the applied voltage gradient, due to backflow across a composite interface. The observation was made in the through-thickness direction of a continuous carbon fiber epoxy-matrix two-lamina composite, such that the fibers in the adjacent laminae were not in the same direction and that the curing pressure during composite fabrication was unusually high (1.4 MPa).