Toughening Mechanism Analysis of Recycled Rubber-Based Composites Reinforced with Glass Bubbles, Glass Fibers and Alumina Fibers.

Gamze Cakir Kabakci,Ozgur Aslan,Emin Bayraktar

doi:10.3390/polym13234215

Gamze Cakir Kabakci, Ozgur Aslan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13234215

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Abstract

Recycling of materials attracts considerable attention around the world due to environmental and economic concerns. Recycled rubber is one of the most commonly used recyclable materials in a number of industries, including automotive and aeronautic because of their low weight and cost efficiency. In this research, devulcanized recycled rubber-based composites are designed with glass bubble microsphere, short glass fiber, aluminum chip and fine gamma alumina fiber (γ-Al2O3) reinforcements. After the determination of the reinforcements with matrix, bending strength and fracture characteristics of the composite are investigated by three-point bending (3PB) tests. Halpin–Tsai homogenization model is adapted to the rubber-based composites to estimate the moduli of the composites. Furthermore, the relevant toughening mechanisms for the most suitable reinforcements are analyzed and stress intensity factor, KIc and critical energy release rate, GIc in mode I are determined by 3PB test with single edge notch specimens. In addition, 3PB tests are simulated by finite element analysis and the results are compared with the experimental results. Microstructural and fracture surfaces analysis are carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical test results show that the reinforcement with glass bubbles, aluminum oxide ceramic fibers and aluminum chips generally increase the fracture toughness of the composites.

Highlights

Recycling of materials attracts considerable attention worldwide due to raw material costs, shrinking resources as well as environmental issues
Mechanical test results have shown that the reinforcement with alumina fibers improves the fracture toughness of the composites
All of the tests, including scanning electron microscopy, nanoindentation and static (3PB) test, revealed a combined effect of toughening mechanisms, resulting in high-strength, lightweight and low-cost composites based on rubber modified epoxy composites reinforced with nano magnetic iron oxide and auxiliary fine nickel and nano aluminum powders

Summary

Introduction

Recycling of materials attracts considerable attention worldwide due to raw material costs, shrinking resources as well as environmental issues. Development of low-cost and lightweight materials to be used in the manufacture constitutes an important task They are reinforced with microscale particles to develop physical and mechanical properties of the recycled rubber, such as fracture toughness, resistance to impact. All of the tests, including scanning electron microscopy, nanoindentation and static (3PB) test, revealed a combined effect of toughening mechanisms, resulting in high-strength, lightweight and low-cost composites based on rubber modified epoxy composites reinforced with nano magnetic iron oxide and auxiliary fine nickel and nano aluminum powders. The authors have studied the fracture toughness analysis of epoxy-recycled rubber-based composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets for structural applications in automotive and aeronautics [8]. Microstructural and fracture surfaces analysis are carried out by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Experimental Procedure

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Mechanical Characterization