Effect of organo-modified montmorillonite nanoclay on mechanical, thermal and ablation behavior of carbon fiber/phenolic resin composites

Abstract

The mechanical, thermal and ablation properties of carbon phenolic (C-Ph) composites (Type-I) reinforced with different weight percentages of organo-modified montmorillonite (o-MMT) nanoclay have been studied experimentally. Ball milling was used to disperse different weight (wt) percentages (0, 1,2,4,6 wt.%) of nanoclay into phenolic resin. Viscosity changes to resin due to nanoclay was studied. On the other hand, nanoclay added phenolic matrix composites (Type-II) were prepared to study the dispersion of nanoclay in phenolic matrix by small angle X-ray scattering and thermal stability changes to the matrix by thermogravimetric analyser (TGA). This data was used to understand the mechanical, thermal and ablation properties of Type-I composites. Inter laminar shear strength (ILSS), flexural strength and flexural modulus of Type I composites increased by about 29%, 12% and 7% respectively at 2 wt.% addition of nanoclay beyond which these properties decreased. This was attributed to reduced fiber volume fraction (%Vf) of Type-I composites due to nanoclay addition at such high loadings. Mass ablation rate of Type-I composites was evaluated using oxy acetylene torch test at low heat flux (125 W/cm2) and high heat flux levels (500 W/cm2). Mass ablation rates have increased at both flux levels marginally up to 2 wt.% addition of nanoclay beyond which it has increased significantly. This is in contrast to increased thermal stability observed for Type-I and Type-II composites up to 2 wt.% addition of nanoclay. Increased ablation rates due to nanoclay addition was attributed to higher insulation efficiency of nanolcay, which accumulates more heat energy in limited area behind the ablation front and self-propagating ablation mechanisms triggered by thermal decomposition of organic part of nanoclay.