Abstract
In this study, GLAREs (Glass Reinforced Aluminum Laminates) with 3/2 configuration were fabricated in-house with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified epoxy resins. Uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in epoxy resin was achieved via a two-step dispersion method with concentration up to 2.0 wt%. The influence of MWCNTs on the flexural property and the impact performance of GLAREs was investigated through the three-point bending and drop weight Dynatup impact testings, respectively. The incorporation of MWCNTs into epoxy evidently improved the flexural strength and modulus. In comparison with pure epoxy bonded GLARE, the modified GLAREs generally showed improvement of impact resistance. The improvement was more obvious at low concentration of MWCNT due to better dispersion of nanotubes in the resin and reasonable wettability of glass fibres and aluminium to the modified resin. Diversified failure mechanisms including plastic deformation and rupture of metal layers, breakage of fibres and matrix, delamination between composite and metal layers, and delamination between composite plies were observed. In addition, debonding, pull-out, and bridging effects of carbon nanotubes were observed, which proved the contribution of MWCNTs to the improved impact resistance of the modified GLAREs.
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