Low Velocity Impact, Fatigue and Visco-elastic Behaviour of Carbon/E-glass Intra-ply fibre-Reinforced Nano-silica Toughened Epoxy Composite

Abstract

This current research dealing the effect of adding high stiffness carbon fibre along with E-glass fibre and addition of nano-silica particles as a toughening agent in epoxy resin. The main aim of this research is to improve the damping, storage modulus and fatigue behaviour of glass-epoxy composite by using carbon fibre and nano-silica particles. The intra-ply glass and carbon fibre were prepared using handloom method with uniform weft and warp. The proposed composites were prepared using hand layup method followed by post-curing at 120οC. The low-velocity impact test results revealed that the composites made with intra-ply carbon glass fibre along with 2 vol% of nano-silica offered maximum resistance against penetration. Similarly, the fatigue behaviour revealed that the presence of 1 vol% nano-silica and carbon fibre provides the highest life cycle of 30150 counts. The visco-elastic properties of glass-carbon intra-ply fibre with 2 vol% of nano-silica composite possess storage modulus of 9.5 GPa. The scanning electron microscope images revealed more shear cups in the fractured matrix, which indicates improved toughness of the epoxy matrix.