Effects of incorporating ZnO nanowires on the moisture absorption and mechanical properties of composites

Abstract

AbstractFor the first time, this study explores how the incorporation of ZnO nanowires (ZnO NW) in the interface affects moisture absorption and resultant mechanical properties of glass and carbon composites. ZnO NW were coated onto glass and carbon fabrics to modify the fiber/matrix interface in the composites. Moisture absorption, longitudinal tension, short beam shear, and mode‐I fracture tests were conducted. While the moisture absorption was found to decrease the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of glass composite, it was found to decrease the ILSS, tensile properties, and fracture toughness of carbon composites. The incorporation of ZnO NW was found to decrease the moisture absorption in both glass and carbon composites, increase the tensile modulus of dry and wet glass composites by ~17%, and prevent the delamination failure of wet carbon composites in tensile tests. Also, ZnO NW incorporation was found to increase the fracture toughness of all composites with a maximum of 141% improvement for dry carbon composite. Importantly, ZnO NW incorporation was believed to increase the stiffness and prevent bending failure of DCB arm in wet carbon composites. The uniqueness of this article includes demonstrating the benefits of ZnO NW to reduce the moisture absorption in composites and to reduce the extent of fiber/matrix interface degradation in wet carbon composites.