Method for the preparation of a reinforced thermoset polymer composite

Abstract

The present invention refers to a method for the preparation of a reinforced thermoset polymer composite, said thermoset polymer composite comprising coated fibres, the coating being used as a vehicle for the introduction of carbon nanotubes into the thermoset polymer, the preparation of said reinforced thermoset polymer composite comprising the following steps: providing fibres; preparing a coating comprising carbon nanotubes and a polymeric binder; applying said coating to said fibres to obtain coated fibres; impregnating said coated fibres with a precursor of a thermoset polymer and letting part of the carbon nanotubes transfer from the coating into the precursor of the thermoset polymer; curing said precursor containing the coated fibres and the transferred carbon nanotubes to achieve the reinforced thermoset polymer composite.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A coated fibre comprising:
 a fibre; and   a coating composition for the fibre comprising:
 a polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of an aromatic poly (hydroxyl ether), polysilanes and their blends and/or copolymers; 
 carbon nanotubes, 
   wherein the weight ratio between the carbon nanotubes and the polymeric binder is higher than 1:9.   
     
     
         2 . The coated fibre according to  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic poly (hydroxyl ether) is a phenoxy polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The coated fibre according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio between the carbon nanotubes and the polymeric binder is higher than 1:4. 
     
     
         4 . The coated fibre according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibres are selected from the group consisting of carbon fibres, glass fibres, polyaramide fibres and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The coated fibre according to  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-wall (SWCNTs), multi-wall (MWCNTs), and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The coated fibre according to  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are characterized by a diameter between 0.5 and 75 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The coated fibre according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating composition is in the form of a dispersion or an emulsion.