Assessing damage mitigation by silanized milled graphite nanoparticles in hybrid GFRP laminated composites

Abstract

In GFRP laminated composites, matrix-fiber delamination is almost unavoidable and a serious problem that significantly hampers the mechanical properties of the composites. This work presents the use of cost-effective silanized milled graphite nanoparticles (GrNPs) to mitigate matrix-fiber delamination in GFRP laminated composites. FESEM and TEM analysis of pristine GrNPs exhibit porous structure consisting of stacked and randomly oriented planes with a large number of defect sites. The silanization of GrNPs (SGrNPs) results in the covering of pores or defect sites and produces the rough surfaces. The SGrNPs (0.5 wt%) reinforced GRFP laminated composites reveal the enhancement in the mechanical properties such as tensile strength (~33%), tensile modulus (~21%), toughness (~35%), flexural strength (~42.6%), work of fracture (~57%), and short beam strength (~23%), respectively. The improvement in the mechanical properties of the composites is due to the mitigation of matrix-fiber delamination by SGrNPs.