Evaluation of tensile properties of composite lycal/epoxy polymer laminates reinforced with E-glass fiber ±45° woven fabrics

Abstract

Polymer matrix composite is mostly used as main material of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) structure. The composite material that is usually used is polymer matrix composite using glass or carbon fiber with epoxy or polyester resin. E-glass, carbon, and aramid are the fibers that widely used in composite because of their high stiffness and strength, and they are lightweight. Therefore, in this study, the authors conducted a study of the mechanical properties of E-glass composite materials. We use E-glass fiber ±45°, this E-glass is woven type with fiber direction -45° and +45°. This E-glass will be tied with Lycal resin and epoxy. The purpose of this study is to determine the mechanical properties material such as tensile strength and stiffness of a composite material of E-glass fiber ±45° with Lycal resin and epoxy resin. Composite was compared between Lycal and epoxy ones. We manufactured the composite E-glass fiber ±45°/Lycal and E-glass fiber ±45°/epoxy with hand lay-up method, the cut specimen geometry refer to ASTM D3039 for tensile standard test. Tensile test was conducted with Tensilon Universal Testing Machine – AND RTF-2410 with a 100kN load cell, specimen shape and size according to standard size ASTMD 3039. The result shown that the matrix had an effect on tensile strengths of composite samples. The tensile strength of E-glass fiber ±45°/epoxy composite is 65.43 MPa, while the tensile strength of E-glass fiber ±45°/Lycal composite is 49.94 MPa, so that E-glass fiber ±45°/epoxy composite is stronger than E-glass fiber ±45°/Lycal composite.