Mechanical and low velocity impact characterization of carbon/glass hybrid composites with graphene nanoplatelets

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the ability of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) inclusion effects on mechanical (tensile and flexural) and low-velocity impact (LVI) characteristics of carbon and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites. A high speed of mechanical stirrer was used for mixing of epoxy with GnPs particles at different GnPs weight contents (0, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 wt%), and the mixture of the GnPs enriched resin was applied to the carbon and glass fiber fabrics for different lay-up conditions by using the hand-layup method. Impact tests were performed by using a drop weight impact machine for the impact energy of 30 J, and time history responses of load and displacement were evaluated and reported. Damage characteristics of the composite samples after the low-velocity impact tests were characterized and compared according to GnPs loadings. In this way, the combined effects of GnPs loading and carbon/glass fiber hybridization were investigated in detail. Results showed from this study that incorporation of GnPs particles at the certain concentrations significantly affects the impact resistance and mechanical properties of carbon/glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites. However, excessive GnPs particle addition into the epoxy resin caused a reduction in mechanical and impact properties as a result of particle agglomeration with reducing load transferring from particle to matrix resin.