Thin film barrier coating for CFRP

1. An article comprising:

(i) a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) substrate, wherein the CFRP substrate comprises a resin matrix system with a reinforcement comprising carbon fibres, aligned with each other in substantially one direction, disposed therein, wherein the reinforcement does not comprise a particulate dispersion,

(ii) a buffer layer disposed adjacent the CFRP substrate, and comprising a poly(para-xylylene) polymer; and

(iii) a moisture barrier coating comprising diamond-like carbon disposed adjacent the buffer layer.

2. The article according to claim 1 , wherein the poly(para-xylylene) polymer is represented by the formula I, as follows:

wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a halogen, and wherein n is greater than 2.

3. The article according to claim 1 , wherein the article comprises more than one buffer layer comprising poly(para-xylylene) polymer.

4. The article according to claim 3 , wherein the thickness of each buffer layer is about 0.1-1000 μm.

5. The article according to claim 1 , wherein the article comprises a plurality of buffer layers and moisture barrier coatings alternatively disposed, such that the plurality of the plurality of buffer layers and moisture barrier coatings can be identified by general formula (I):

[BL:MBC] n    (I)

wherein BL corresponds to a buffer layer, MBC corresponds to a moisture barrier coating, and n is greater than 1.

6. The article according to claim 1 , wherein the article comprises silsesquioxane, or a derivative or analogue thereof.

7. The article according to claim 6 , wherein the silsesquioxane, or a derivative or analogue thereof is represented by a general formula (R—SiO 1.5 ) n , wherein n is an even number, and R is hydrogen, or a hydroxyl or alkoxy group, or an optionally substituted straight or branched alkyl, alkylene, aryl or arylene group.

8. The article according to claim 6 , wherein the silsesquioxane comprises a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.

9. The article according to claim 6 , wherein the silsesquioxane comprises aminopropylisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, or a derivative or analogue thereof.

10. The article according to claim 6 , wherein the silsesquioxane comprises epoxycyclohexylisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, or a derivative or analogue thereof.

11. The article according to claim 6 , wherein the CFRP substrate comprises between about 0.5 and 5 wt % silsesquioxane, or a derivative or analogue thereof.

12. The article according to claim 1 comprising carbon nanotubes.

13. A method of manufacturing an article comprising a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), the method comprising:

(i) providing a CFRP substrate comprising a resin matrix system with a reinforcement comprising carbon fibres, aligned with each other in substantially one direction, wherein the reinforcement does not comprise a particulate dispersion;

(ii) depositing a buffer layer comprising a poly(para-xylylene) polymer on the CFRP substrate; and

(iii) depositing a moisture barrier coating comprising diamond-like carbon on the buffer layer.