Fabrication and Characterization of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber and Stitched E-Glass Fibre Tailored Nano-Silica Epoxy Resin Composite

Abstract

In this research, the role of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (ABR) and nano-silica along with stitched E-glass fibre in epoxy composite was investigated. The main objective of this present study is how the additions of ABR and nano-silica particle influences in the mechanical, drop load impact and fracture toughness properties of glass-epoxy composite. The layering of rubber sheet for improving the reinforcing effect is a novel approach in reinforced plastic. The composites were prepared using various stacking sequence of ABR and E-glass fibre with nano-silica toughened epoxy resin. The composites were characterized using ASTM standards. According to mechanical properties the composite designation FAF2 symmetric arrangement gives better overall (rank of 97) properties. Similarly, the composite designation AFA2 gives very higher penetration resistance against the fast moving impactor. The fracture toughness behaviour of the composite shows higher energy release rate of 3.8 MJ/m2 and fracture toughness of 22 MPa for 3 vol.% of nano-silica particle dispersed FAF epoxy composite. The SEM micrographs show improved adhesion of 3 vol.% nano-silica with fibre and ABR in composites. The penetration improved rubber based epoxy composites could be used in armour based device, automobile body parts and domestic product manufacturing industries.