The use of phenoxy nanocomposite films as carriers of nanofillers involving multiwalled carbon nanotubes
and nanoclays is successfully demonstrated for application in epoxy carbon fibers reinforced composites
(CFRC) processed by RTM. Model studies on individual nanocomposite filaments embedded in
epoxy precursors show that the nanofillers are passively transported by the interdiffusion gradient during
heating over distance around 800 lm. A morphology gradient is generated after reaction induced
phase separation and the nanofillers end up in the epoxy, despite their initial dispersion in the phenoxy.
The proof of concept is extended to CFRC panels where nanocomposite phenoxy films are prepositioned
between every odd carbon layer of the preform. Carbon nanotubes are filtered by the carbon fabrics,
which limits their full diffusion and that of phenoxy through the preform. This has negative consequences
on fracture toughness (GIc). For nanoclay, GIc is rather slightly improved although the origin is not fully
clear.