Abstract
The influence of short-term water absorption on the mechanical properties of halloysite nanotubes-multi layer graphene reinforced polyester hybrid nanocomposites has been investigated. The addition of nano-fillers significantly increased the flexural strength, tensile strength, and impact strength in dry and wet conditions. After short-term water exposure, the maximum microhardness, tensile, flexural and impact toughness values were observed at 0.1 wt % multi-layer graphene (MLG). The microhardness increased up to 50.3%, tensile strength increased up to 40% and flexural strength increased up to 44%. Compared to dry samples, the fracture toughness and surface roughness of all types of produced nanocomposites were increased that may be attributed to the plasticization effect. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the main failure mechanism is caused by the weakening of the nano-filler-matrix interface induced by water absorption. It was further observed that synergistic effects were not effective at a concentration of 0.1 wt % to produce considerable improvement in the mechanical properties of the produced hybrid nanocomposites.
Highlights
Unsaturated polyester (UP) resins are commonly used in thermosetting polymers due to their low price and easy processability into composite fabrications [1,2]
An increase in Tg with halloysite nanotubes (HNT) and multi-layer graphene (MLG) shows that the fillers were uniformly dispersed [12,29]
It is shown that polyester matrix is vulnerable to water exposure
Summary
Unsaturated polyester (UP) resins are commonly used in thermosetting polymers due to their low price and easy processability into composite fabrications [1,2]. The thermal and mechanical properties of these polymers (unsaturated polyester) are generally improved by the addition of inorganic additives (particles and fibres reinforcements) [6,7,8]. Their effectiveness can be associated to the interfacial adhesion between the polymer matrix and the reinforcement material which typically influenced by a relative incompatibility between the organic and inorganic phases [9,10]. All polymer composites absorb moisture and the water molecules can act as a plasticizer by influencing simultaneously the fibres, the matrix and the interface, creating regions of poor transfer efficiency, which results in a reduction
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