Abstract
The aim of this work is to study the effect of core-shell rubbers on the mechanical properties of CFRPs.For the preparation of composites, two types of resins were used, a three-component Araldite resin (resin-hardener-accelerator system in proportions of 100-90-0,5 by weight respectively), and MX 156, which contains 25 % core-shell elastomers and 75 % Araldite resin. Depending on the mechanical test, two types of carbon fibre fabrics (UD C415, G0926) are used with corresponding number of layers. The composites were prepared by vacuum infusion and cut to the appropriate dimensions by water-cutting. They were tested for mechanical performance, by bending, shearing, tensile, impact and fracture toughness tests, to compare the properties of CSR-containing composites and reference CFRPs. Fracture analysis of specimens was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results exhibited a 50% increase in impact strength while the energy absorbed during the fracture toughness test was 4 times greater on specimens with CSR than reference.
Highlights
Carbon fibre-reinforced composites are widely used in many industries, such as aerospace and automotive
This study aims to investigate the effect of core-shell rubbers on the mechanical properties of CFRPs
The 13.8% reduction in flexural strength is due to the discontinuities in the core of the elastomers that reduce the strength of the epoxy resin and the composite
Summary
Carbon fibre-reinforced composites are widely used in many industries, such as aerospace and automotive. The fact that the fibres are not chemically bonded to the epoxy matrix, in combination with the cross-linked structure of epoxy polymers makes these composite materials sensitive to the propagation of cracks and weak impact resistance. This phenomenon affects the mechanical performance of materials [2]. Liquid reactive rubbers are normally used to improve the toughness of epoxies such as carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (CTBN) These particles that initially are soluble in the uncured resin, separate during the curing to form rubbery particles[5]. Such systems exhibit significant drawbacks when used with fast cure epoxy resins, due to insufficient/incomplete rubber domain formation and differences in the microstructure between the centre and surface of the fibre composite plates[6]
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