Effect of hygrothermal aging on the mechanical properties of nanoclay-glass fiber-epoxy composite and optimization using full factorial design

Abstract

This work emphasis on investigation of effect of hygrothermal aging conditions on the mechanical properties of nanoclay-glass fiber-epoxy composites. Composite laminates are prepared by ‘hand lay-up technique’ with varied nanoclay and glass fiber weight percentage. Composites have undergone different hygrothermal conditions viz, cold and boiling soaking. Composite specimens are experimented for tensile and flexural strengths. The ‘design of experiment (DOE)’ based on full factorial design (33 = L27) is used to optimize the response variables. The design and analysis is done by using ‘MINITAB 16’ software. Results revealed that, hygrothermal aging conditions (42.69% contribution to the tensile strength and 53.87% contribution to the flexural strength) have negative and maximum influence on the composites. Nanoclay (24.75% of contribution to the tensile strength and 29.17% contribution to the flexural strength) and fiber weight parentage (30.23% contribution to the tensile strength and 16.25% contribution to the flexural strength) have positive influence on the composites.