Hierarchical mode I and mode II interlaminar toughening of Z-pinned composites using 1D and 2D carbon nanofillers

Through-thickness reinforcements using z-pins is a highly effective method for increasing the delamination resistance of fibre-polymer laminates. Here we report a hierarchical approach of incoporating carbon nanofillers and z-pins to further improve delamination toughness. The nanofillers include one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanofillers (e.g. carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibres) or two-dimensional (2D) nanofillers (i.e. graphene nanoplatelets)....