Abstract
Thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) was incorporated as a reinforcing filler in the epoxy resin to investigate the effect on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy composites. At first, the epoxy matrix was modified by adding different wt % of TRGO from 0.05 to 0.4 wt % followed by the preparation of TRGO/CF/epoxy composites througha vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. The prepared TRGO was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. It was observed that the wrinkled structure of synthesized TRGO may be helpful to interlock with the epoxy resin and CF.The inter-laminar shear strength, in-plane fracture toughness and impact strength increased by ~67%, 62% and 93% at 0.2 wt % of TRGO loading in the CF/epoxy composites as compared to the CF reinforced epoxy. The mechanical properties of the hybrid composites decreased beyond the 0.2 wt % of TRGO incorporation in the epoxy resin. The fracture surfaces of the hybrid composites were studied by FE-SEM image analysis to investigate the synergistic effect of TRGO in the CF/epoxy composite. This study suggested that TRGO could be used asgood nanofiller to resist the matrix and fiber fracture.
Highlights
Carbon fiber (CF) reinforced epoxy composites are being widely used in many structural applications especially in aerospace and automotive industries due to their superior cost-effectiveness, high specific strength and light weight [1,2]
The inter-laminar fracture toughness (IFT), inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) and Impact resistance were carried out to investigate the effect of Thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) on the delamination phenomena of the prepared hybrid composites
Fabrics were cut with a dimension of 160 × 200 mm and CF/TRGO/epoxy laminates were prepared by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process
Summary
Carbon fiber (CF) reinforced epoxy composites are being widely used in many structural applications especially in aerospace and automotive industries due to their superior cost-effectiveness, high specific strength and light weight [1,2]. The majority of the previous studies reported the improvement of mechanical and electrical properties of different kinds of fibers (short, unidirectional long fiber and woven fabric of glass and carbon) reinforced composites prepared by different techniques such as electrophorectic deposition, hand lay-up, coating processes, etc. Using graphene and its derivatives as nano-filler They investigated the effect of GO on the mechanical properties of fiber reinforced epoxy composites. The IFT, inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) and Impact resistance were carried out to investigate the effect of TRGO on the delamination phenomena of the prepared hybrid composites. The interaction or interfacial adhesionbetween the fiber and matrix was examined by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images of the fractured specimens
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