The outstanding properties of carbon fibre composites can be enhanced by modification of the polymer matrix with Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Carbon Nano Fibres (CNFs). Three steps are necessary for successful processing: chemical modification of the nanofiller for easier separation of the nanofillers and likewise better bonding to the polymer, fine dispersion in the polymer in order to reduce inhomogeneities like large agglomerates and proper wetting of the carbon fibre fabrics or strands during production.

In course of the FFG project NanoPul we work on all three of these topics to enable future application of nanomodified resins in industrial scale pultrusion. So far, we established low toxicity modification of the nanofillers by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) at room temperature, resulting in a degree of oxidation of 2 %. We successfully used ultrasound as a fast and easily applicable dispersion method for dispersion of nanofiller directly in a low viscous resin system, without application of additional solvents.

These promising results show an easily scalable and non-toxic modification and dispersion strategy, which is crucial for industrial applicability and which will allow production of nanomodified pultruded CFRPs in the near future