Abstract
Nanosilica particles were utilized as secondary reinforcement to enhance the strength of the epoxy resin matrix. Thin glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminates of 3 ± 0.25 mm were developed with E-Glass mats of 610 GSM and LY556 epoxy resin. Nanosilica fillers were mixed with epoxy resin in the order of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 wt% through mechanical stirring followed by an ultrasonication method. Thereafter, the damage was induced on toughened laminates through low-velocity drop weight impact tests and the induced damage was assessed through an image analysis tool. The residual compression strength of the impacted laminates was assessed through compression after impact (CAI) experiments. Laminates with nanosilica as secondary reinforcement exhibited enhanced compression strength, stiffness, and damage suppression. Results of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that physical toughening mechanisms enhanced the strength of the nanoparticle-reinforced composite. Failure analysis of the damaged area through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evidenced the presence of key toughening mechanisms like damage containment through micro-cracks, enhanced fiber-matrix bonding, and load transfer.
Highlights
Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite materials are extensively used in aerospace, automobile, wind turbine, and marine applications due to its high stiffness, lightweight, excellent corrosion, and fatigue resistance properties
Nanosilica particles were utilized as secondary reinforcement to enhance the strength of the epoxy resin matrix
A coalescence of these micro-cracks in the matrix system serves as the source for delamination within the plies which is due to the mode II interlaminar shear stresses [4]
Summary
Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite materials are extensively used in aerospace, automobile, wind turbine, and marine applications due to its high stiffness, lightweight, excellent corrosion, and fatigue resistance properties. GFRP composites are vulnerable to accidental and in-service damages leading to barely visible impact damages caused due to impact events [1,2,3]. Cracking of the matrix system, delamination at the fiber-matrix interface, fiber pull-out, and fracture are a few frequently observed barely visible failure modes in GFRP materials leading to the reduction of strength and stiffness of the structure. The predominant mode of failure is the matrix cracking which occurs within the plies due to the shear stresses induced through the Materials 2019, 12, 3057; doi:10.3390/ma12193057 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials. A coalescence of these micro-cracks in the matrix system serves as the source for delamination within the plies which is due to the mode II interlaminar shear stresses [4]. It is essential to enhance the strength of the matrix system through a sustainable technique to prevent matrix cracking in composite structures
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