The effect of boron carbide on the mechanical properties of bidirectional carbon fiber/epoxy composites

Abstract

This research work based on carbon fiber epoxy (CF/Ep) composites shows the effect of Boron carbide B4C filler on mechanical properties using a hand layup procedure followed by the vacuum bagging process method. The boron carbide fillers were uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin and used as matrix material. The weight percentage of (B4C) filler material in the composite was varied and mechanical properties were obtained with microfiller. The T800CF/Ep composites with 1%wt., 3%wt. and 5%wt. B4C fillers were taken for evaluating the mechanical properties. All composites were fabricated with an equal weight percentage of carbon fiber and a similar consolidation process. The mechanical properties like tensile properties, flexural properties, Interlaminar shear strength, impact strength and hardness are studied to know how the mechanical response of composite structures varies with filler addition. Testing followed the trend of 1%wt. > 3%wt. > 5%wt. of B4C in all mechanical properties of B4C filled CF/Ep composites. Tensile strength of 1%wt. B4C filled composites were better than basic CF/Ep composites whereas 3%wt. & 5%wt. B4C filled composite values were lower. The tensile modulus of all the B4C filled composites was better than basic CF/Ep composites. Flexural properties of 1%wt. and 3%wt. B4C filled composites were better than basic CF/Ep composites whereas 5%wt. B4C filled composite values were lower. Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of 1%wt. B4C composites gave better results whereas 3%wt. and 5%wt. B4C filled composites gave lower results. The impact energy of all composites gave lower values than basic CF/Ep composites. Hardness values of all B4C filled composites were better than basic CF/Ep composites. The most important developments in the mechanical properties of composites are further supported by scanning electron microscopy.