Mechanical properties improvement of silane addition epoxy/3D orthogonal woven composite material

Abstract

In this study, the influence of silane addition on mechanical properties of epoxy/3D orthogonal glass fiber woven composite was studied. The KH560 silane modification composite specimen reinforced with 3D orthogonal woven fabric/epoxy was manufactured by means of Resin Infusion under Flexible Tooling. The mechanical properties of the epoxy/3D glass fiber woven composites were characterized by tensile and bending tests. The tensile and bending properties of silane-modified 3D orthogonal woven glass composite in warp and weft directions were compared with the pristine or epoxy/glass composite material not coupled using silane. The results show that the tensile and bending properties in warp and weft directions have been improved due to the silane addition. The bonding strength between the fiber and matrix was improved and the delamination and debonding between fiber and matrix was retarded and shifted to cohesive failure of the matrix due to the silane modification. Electron microscopy of the fracture and failure modes of the test specimens were used to support the results and conclusions.