Effects of cryogenic and warm temperatures on quasi-static penetration resistance of carbon-aramid hybrid nanocomposites reinforced using halloysite nanotubes

Abstract

The quasi-static penetration test of a composite structure aims to measure impact behavior under the out-of-plane loadings without dynamic and rate effects. In this study, carbon-aramid reinforced nanocomposites were manufactured by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding and hand lay-up techniques and characterized by quasi-static penetration tests. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were added to epoxy resin as nanofillers. Quasi-static punch shear test (QS-PST) was performed using a 12.7-mm cylindrical punch with a 50.8-mm support span. QS-PSTs tests were carried out at −50 °C, −25 °C, 0 °C, 25 °C, and 50 °C to determine the effect of temperature on quasi-static penetration behavior of neat and HNT-reinforced carbon-aramid nanocomposites. Absorbed energy values and penetration force–displacement curves were acquired from QS-PSTs for each sample. Photographs of the front and rear sides of the samples were taken and analyzed. Moreover, the samples were cut from the middle, and the damage throughout the thickness of the composite samples were examined. It was observed that for all test samples, damages increased when the temperatures decreased. For the same temperature, nanoparticle addition to the samples resulted in higher penetration force and less damage. We confirmed the possibility of increasing penetration resistance and energy absorption capacity by adding HNT to carbon-aramid fibers at cryogenic and warm temperatures.