Reinforced Epoxy Resin Research Articles

Experimental Analysis on the Impact Behaviour of Graphite-Filled Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composites Subjected to Sea Water Ageing and Notch Depth

Experimental Analysis on the Impact Behaviour of Graphite-Filled Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composites Subjected to Sea Water Ageing and Notch Depth

Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Jute Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composites and Lime Sludge as a Filler

Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Jute Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composites and Lime Sludge as a Filler

Feasibility of Sustainable Asphalt Concrete Materials Utilizing Waste Plastic Aggregate, Epoxy Resin, and Magnesium-Based Additive.

This research addresses the urgent need for sustainable and durable asphalt mixtures by quantitatively investigating the effects of incorporating waste plastic aggregate (WPA) and magnesium-based additives. This study explores WPA content levels of 3%, 5%, and 7% wt of aggregate in combination with a fixed 3% wt epoxy resin content to the asphalt binder, supplemented with the 1.5% wt magnesium-based additive. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive analysis of various performance parameters, including deformation strength, indirect tensile strength (ITS), rut depth, and dynamic stability, to assess the impact of WPA, epoxy resin, and the magnesium-based additive on asphalt mixture properties. The results demonstrate significant improvements in key performance aspects with increasing WPA content. The WPA mixtures exhibit enhanced deformation strength, with values of 4.01, 3.7, and 3.32 MPa for 3, 5, and 7% wt WPA content, respectively, compared to the control mixture. Furthermore, the inclusion of WPA and epoxy resin, along with the magnesium-based additive, contributes to improved adhesion, cohesion, and resistance to stripping damage. Notably, the 7% wt WPA mixture showcases exceptional performance, characterized by a final rut depth of 2.66 mm and a dynamic stability of 7519 passes per millimeter, highlighting its superior rutting resistance and load-bearing capacity. This study also reveals the influence of WPA content on ITS and stiffness properties, with the 5% wt WPA mixture achieving an optimal balance between strength and stiffness. Overall, this research highlights the potential of incorporating WPA, epoxy resin, and magnesium-based additives in asphalt mixtures to enhance their performance and durability. By utilizing plastic waste materials and optimizing their combination with epoxy reinforcement, along with the innovative use of magnesium-based additive, the findings contribute to the development of sustainable infrastructure materials and pave the way for further advancements in the field.

A novel 3D woven carbon fiber composite with super interlayer performance hybridized by CNT tape and copper wire simultaneously

Abstract In this work, a novel binary hybrid woven carbon nanotube (CNT) tape/copper wire carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite is prepared. The mode I interlaminar fracture toughness (G IC) is employed to critically evaluate the delamination performance. A comparison of the G IC value with that of the carbon fiber reinforced composite confirms that incorporating CNT tapes and copper wires into the composite increases the value by 263%. In the transverse and through-thickness direction, the conductivity of the laminate increases to 458 and 193 S/m, which is increased by 196 and 675%, respectively. The thermal conductivity along the thickness direction is increased to 2.27 W/m K, an increase of 134%. The volume fraction of CNT tapes and copper wire are as low as approximately 0.87 and 0.47 vol%, respectively. 3D woven composites have potential applications in high-performance structures and lightning striking protection such as aircraft, ships, and engines, which benefits by the innovative through-thickness implantation of composites using CNT tape and copper wire.

Recent progress in Epoxy Nanocomposites: Corrosion, structural, flame retardancy and applications — A comprehensive review

AbstractIn the past few years, epoxy resins utilization has gained much significant recognition from researchers worldwide as a result of its advantages in different sectors such as automotive, aerospace, electronic systems, constructions, and other related fields because of its outstanding mechanical performance, corrosion protection, and dielectric properties. The nanomaterials incorporation into the matrix has been duly examined to be the most productive route to enhance polymer composite's mechanical properties. Despite that, the inherent brittleness, relatively low fracture toughness, cross‐linking ability, poor electrical, and thermal properties of epoxy render it weak to growth and initiation of cracks, limiting its utilization in state‐of‐the‐art structural applications. Especially, epoxy is flammable while releasing a considerable amount of gases and smoke, thus, extending a potential risk to lives. Consequently, several nanofiller materials like graphene (Gr), transition metal dichalcogenides, MXene, and hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) produce extensive chances to equip multi‐functional characteristics and then reinforce the epoxy resins for the state‐of‐the‐art application. With this current review, the present literature investigation of epoxy filled with nano‐sized material has been examined thoroughly. Current advances in the approach of integrating nanosized materials in the epoxy matrices have been also introduced. Most significantly, anti‐corrosion, mechanical, and flame‐retardant properties of nanomaterials reinforced epoxy nanocomposites have also been reviewed in particular. Ultimately, the present statuses of the field in addition to the future approach have been considered concerning the usefulness of numerous nanofillers toward reinforcement of epoxy in construction and building materials. The expectation in this extensive review could produce a valuable reference, ingenuity, and guidance for researchers in this area of study.

Interfaces in reinforced epoxy resins: from molecular scale understanding towards mechanical properties

ContextWe report on atomic level of detail analyses of polymer composite models featuring epoxy resin interfaces to silica, iron oxide, and cellulose layers. Using “reactive” molecular dynamics simulations to explore epoxy network formation, resin hardening is investigated in an unprejudiced manner. This allows the detailed characterization of salt-bridges and hydrogen bonds at the interfaces. Moreover, our sandwich-type composite systems are subjected to tensile testing along the interface normal. To elucidate the role of relaxation processes, we contrast (i) direct dissociation of the epoxy-metal oxide/cellulose contact layer, (ii) constant strain-rate molecular dynamics studies featuring (visco-)elastic deformation and bond rupture of the epoxy resin, and (iii) extrapolated relaxation dynamics mimicking quasi-static conditions. While the fracture mechanism is clearly identified as interface dissociation of the composite constituents, we still find damaging of the nearby polymer phase. The observed plastic deformation and local cavitation are rationalized from the comparably large stress required for the dissociation of salt-bridges, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals contacts. Indeed, the delamination of the contact layers of epoxy resins with slabs of silica, magnetite, and cellulose call for a maximum stress of 33, 26, and 21 MPa, respectively, as compared to 84 MPa required for bulk epoxy yielding.MethodsMolecular dynamics simulations using the Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS) code were augmented by a Monte Carlo–type procedure to probe epoxy bond formation (Macromolecules 53(22): 9698–9705). The underlying interaction models are split into conventional Generalized Amber Force Fields (GAFF) for non-reacting moieties and a recently developed reactive molecular mechanics potential enabling epoxy bond formation and cleavage (ACS Polymers Au 1(3): 165–174).

Experimental assessment on the mechanical, physical, thermal, and chemical properties of halloysite and carbon nanoparticles reinforced epoxy resins for repair applications

AbstractHalloysite nanotubes (HNT) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) are potential nanoparticles that can be incorporated into polymer adhesives to enhance their performance for repairing damaged composite structures. However, the nanoparticle adhesive blends need to be assessed as their performance may be affected by the preparation techniques, nanoparticles types, and mass concentration. The present study aimed to evaluate the mechanical properties (specifically tensile and adhesion properties), physical properties (including wetting and rheological characteristics), thermal properties, and chemical properties of two commercially available adhesives, namely Epo‐Tek 301 (consists of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether resin, known as DGEBA) and Nano‐Force E100 (consists of bisphenol A/F epichlorohydrin premixed with CNTs). Furthermore, DGEBA adhesive with 1, 3, 5, and 9 wt% HNTs, and DGEBA adhesive with 1 wt% of treated and untreated CNTs were prepared. The findings revealed that there were no appreciable differences in the mechanical, physical, thermal, and chemical properties between the neat DGEBA and DGEBA with 1 wt% HNTs. However, the mechanical and physical properties deteriorated, and the char yield increased after thermal degradation for adhesives containing more than 1 wt% HNTs. On the other hand, no enhancement in all properties was observed for adhesives containing CNTs. Moreover, the adhesives containing CNTs exhibited higher viscosity than Nano‐Force E100, which could hinder resin infiltration for composite repair applications. Therefore, the types of adhesive to be used for repairing impact‐damaged composite structures must be prudently selected.

Effects of silver epoxy reinforcement on graphene nanoplatelets functionalized surface in pool boiling heat transfer enhancement

Silver Epoxy reinforcement is pivotal to enhance the adhesive strength of Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) on the substrate. This experimental study seeks to scrutinize the effects of Silver Epoxy reinforced GNP functionalized surface on the heat transfer of pool boiling. Three different GNP-based coatings are analyzed: simple GNP, uncured GNP reinforced with Silver Epoxy, and cured GNP reinforced with Silver Epoxy, all applied to copper substrate. For each coating, the surface morphology, chemical bonding, and wettability are examined. Under a heat flux of 550 kW/m2, the experimentally derived heat transfer coefficient improves by 194%, 36%, and 77% respectively on pristine GNP, uncured GNP/Epoxy, and cured GNP/Epoxy compared to the bare copper surface. The epoxy reinforcement weakens the exceptional boiling improvement achieved by a GNP functionalized surface. Although the thermal curing process turns the GNP/epoxy coating from hydrophobic to hydrophilic and recovers partly the level of boiling enhancement, the biphilicity of GNP tends to dominate boiling heat transfer enhancement by enhancing the bubble dynamics. The hydrophilicity has a subordinate effect by re-wetting the dry spots and preventing the vapour blanket. Silver Epoxy reinforcement significantly enhances the adhesive strength of GNP on a substrate but at the expense of boiling heat transfer enhancement.

Investigation into the mechanical characteristics of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites: Effects of flax and e-glass reinforcement and stacking configuration

Glass fibers are commonly used to reinforce polymer composites due to their excellent mechanical properties. However, their production is expensive and environmentally unfriendly. To tackle these concerns, researchers are exploring natural fibers as a substitute reinforcement material for polymer composites. These natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites are lightweight, possess a high strength-to-weight ratio, and are biodegradable, making them attractive for a wide range of applications such as automotive, marine, oil, consumer goods, sporting goods, and biomedical fields. In this study, the hybrid effects of using flax and E-glass as reinforcement in epoxy, as well as the stacking configuration of flax/E-glass, on the mechanical properties of the polymer composites were investigated. Laminates with different fiber loadings were created using hand layup vacuum bagging and then subjected to tensile testing following ASTM standards. Statistical analysis tools such as interval graphs, contour plots, surface plots, probability plot, and Pareto chart were employed to assess the impact of the fiber and other parameters. Regression analysis was conducted to develop an empirical equation with a 95 percent confidence limit for all intervals. The results indicated that the properties of the polymer composites exhibited slight improvement from pure epoxy to flax/epoxy composites, significant improvement with E-Glass/epoxy composites, and slight decrease with hybridization. Nevertheless, the hybrid composite still demonstrated much higher tensile strength compared to the pure and flax/epoxy composites. The stacking configuration with treated flax as the core and E-Glass as the skin layer resulted in a tensile strength of 164.23 MPa, surpassing that of flax/epoxy and pure epoxy composites. In conclusion, for medium load structural applications, flax/E-glass/reinforced epoxy composites are recommended through hybridization. The utilization of natural fibers as reinforcement in polymer composites presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to glass fibers, while still providing the necessary mechanical properties for various applications.

Interlaminar fracture toughness of carbon/epoxy composites laminates toughened by short carbon fiber

AbstractIn this paper, short carbon fiber (SCF) interlaminar toughened carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin (CF/EP) composite laminates were prepared. The effect of SCF content on the mode II interlaminar fracture toughness (GIIC) and flexural properties of CF/EP composites was investigated. It was shown that the addition of SCF between the plies had an effect on the GIIC of the composites. When the SCF content was 10 g/m2, the GIIC increased from 1506.62 J/m2 to 1995.6 J/m2, which improved by about 32.46%. When the content of SCF was 5 g/m2, the flexural strength and flexural modulus increased by 36.92% and 98.48%, respectively, showing the best performance. The toughening mechanism of SCF was observed by SEM images as SCF debonding and pulling out from the resin and SCF fracture. The present study was also compared with our previous study on short aramid fiber interlaminar toughened CF/EP composites, and the test data and SEM images of the two experiments were compared to analyze the effect of different short fibers on the interlaminar toughening effect, which provides some reference for the selection of interlaminar toughening materials.

KEKUATAN LENTUR KOMPOSIT MENGGUNAKAN MATRIKS EPOXY DENGAN REINFORCEMENT BAMBU, CARBON, PALF DAN SERAT BUNGA MALVA

The flexural strength comparasion of epoxy matrix composite with diferent reinforcement . Composite is a combination of two or more materials that have good physical properties and good mechanical properties. Reinforcement materials commonly used in polymer composites are fibers and strips material, bamboo fiber,carbon, PALF and malva fiber are used as reinforcement materials and epoxy resin polymer used as matrix. The research phase began with finding the journal which explain about flexural strength in a composite that using epoxy resin as matrix. The composite manufacturing process uses the hand lay-up method. The flexural strengths data will be compare and analized. The mechanical properties tested used flexural test with ISO 14125:1998 Fibre-reinforced plastic composites – Determination of flexural properties and ASTM D790/D790M-17 “Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials”.The strongest reinforcement is carbon with 475,27 MPa, second is malva’s fiber 214,00 MPa, third is PALF 103,25 MPa, the last one is bamboo 80,30 MPa.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composites with Excellent Recyclable Performance via Dynamic Acylsemicarbazide Moieties

Achieving the recycling of the carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite is of great significance toward pursuing a sustainable and circular economy but remains a challenge due to the infusible and insoluble properties of epoxy resin. In this study, the acylsemicarbazide (ASC) moieties are introduced into the network to obtain the dynamic reversible cross-linked thermoset epoxy resin (EPOXY-ASC). An optimized EPOXY-ASC with a tensile stress of 81.27 MPa and an elongation at break of 13.80% exhibits excellent reprocessing performance due to the dynamic reversibility of ASC moieties. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites with the EPOXY-ASC resin were successfully prepared with an interlaminar shear strength of 44.86 MPa and can be fully recycled by a solvolysis method without additional agents. The recycled carbon fiber and resin still maintain the original properties well. This study provides a solution to recycle the CFRP composite, which conforms to a circular economy.

Analysis of low velocity impact response of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite with shape memory alloy incorporation

The current article investigates about degradation of lightweight materials in aircraft structural components resulting from low-velocity impacts, a common cause of failure. Although subsonic collisions do not cause immediate external damage to the structure, they significantly reduce the material's stiffness and impact strength. The study explores the performance of intelligent hybrid thermoplastic composite plates subjected to low-speed impacts, both numerically and experimentally. Particularly, the behavior of laminated composites with integrated shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers is discussed in this study. SMA wires are inserted into the composite laminate fabric layer located on the intermediate planes. The study revealed that incorporating SMA fibers increases the damage tolerance and stiffness of the laminated composites compared to standard composite structures. The compounds exhibit a noticeable increase in hardness and energy levels before failure.

Enhanced mechanical and thermal properties while maintaining transparency of epoxy resin film by introducing shear-oriented cellulose nanocrystals

Alignment of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in the aqueous phase have been studied in depth. However, there are few reports on the orientation control of CNCs as rod-like nano fillers in epoxy resins. In this research, the rheological behavior of CNCs/epoxy resin system before curing indicating that CNCs in which can be oriented through shear-induced orientation. Based on this point, shear-oriented CNCs reinforced resin composite films were successfully prepared, mechanical properties, optical properties and thermal stability of which were systematically investigated. Firstly, mechanical properties of composite films can be significantly improved by introducing oriented CNCs at all CNC content. And the aspect ratio of oriented CNCs also has an obvious impact on their enhancement effect. Secondly, although their transmittance decreases with the increase of CNC content, it is possible to obtain composite films with a transmittance close to that of pure epoxy resin film by adjusting the preparation process of CNCs. Finally, the thermal stability of oriented CNCs reinforced epoxy resin composite films at low CNC content is improved, but then decreases with the increase of CNC content. The successful preparation of oriented CNCs reinforced epoxy resin composite films with better mechanical and thermal properties while maintaining transparency will be conducive to expanding the applications of epoxy resins reinforced with rod like micro/nano fillers.

Static, Dynamic Mechanical and Thermal Characteristics of Luffa, Morinda tinctoria, and Myrobalan Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Biocomposites

Static, Dynamic Mechanical and Thermal Characteristics of Luffa, Morinda tinctoria, and Myrobalan Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Biocomposites

The Consequence of SiC Filler Content on the Mechanical, Thermal, and Structural Properties of a Jute/Kevlar Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composite

The Consequence of SiC Filler Content on the Mechanical, Thermal, and Structural Properties of a Jute/Kevlar Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composite

Tribological Performance of Bamboo Fabric Reinforced Epoxy Composites

AbstractBamboo fiber is one of the strongest natural fibers with high strength‐to‐weight and stiffness‐to‐weight ratios and can be used economically for manufacturing fiber‐reinforced composites. In this paper, bamboo fabric‐reinforced epoxy composite is manufactured and its tribological properties for load‐bearing applications are investigated. Sliding wear tests are conducted using a linear reciprocating tribometer and the effect of dry and lubricated contact conditions, applied load, sliding speed, temperature, and woven fabric direction on the coefficient of friction and wear rate are investigated. A scanning electron microscope is used to define the wear mechanisms at room and elevated temperatures. It is observed that the fabric orientation influences the mechanical and tribological performances of the composite material. Wear rate increases at higher loads and working temperatures; however, the effect of sliding speed is not remarkable, especially under lubricated contact conditions. The results present in this paper can be used for designing bamboo‐reinforced epoxy composites for load‐bearing applications, under different working conditions.

A method of obtaining the anisotropic complex moduli of carbon fibers by fitting

AbstractA novel fitting method of obtaining the anisotropic complex moduli of fibers based on the complex moduli of matrix and composites is presented. The complex longitudinal, transverse and in‐plane shear moduli of the unidirectional T700 carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite and the complex modulus of its matrix are measured using dynamic mechanical analysis. The predicted properties of the composite are calculated using the generalized method of cells (GMC). The complex axial, transverse and axial shear moduli of the carbon fibers are obtained by minimizing the sum of the squares of the modules of the difference between the test properties and predicted properties. Finally, the results of the experiment, finite element analysis, and GMC are compared. The results show that the complex axial and transverse moduli of the carbon fibers can be accurately evaluated, while the complex axial shear modulus cannot be accurately determined.

Fibre reinforcement and stacking sequence influence on the through-thickness compression behaviour of polymer composites

A combined experimental and numerical study was performed to investigate the influence of multi-axial stress states and reinforcement type on the constitutive response of fibre reinforced epoxy polymers. The constitutive behaviour of unidirectional and cross-ply layups of carbon and glass fibre reinforced epoxy resin, IM7/8552 and S2/8552 respectively, was investigated. Prismatic short block specimens at different off-axis angles were tested under quasi-static through-thickness compression. The experiments were simulated with an enhanced non-linear material model based on shear localisation planes and pressure dependency, which represents the elastic and plastic experimental behaviour better than other formulations. The results show that the overall constitutive response is highly dependent on the fibre reinforcement type and multi-axial stress state on the mesoscale. In order to obtain an accurate description of the material behaviour, measurement aspects such as determining the correct orthotropic elastic constants, especially the Poisson’s ratios, are highlighted. Furthermore, particular focus is also drawn on important modelling aspects such as material non-linearity and pressure effects.

An interlayer flame retardant method to effectively fire retardant and reinforce CF/EP composites by nanofiber film intercalation

As an advanced material with wide application, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites (CF/EP) are flammable, but the traditional flame retardant methods negatively affect its molding process, heat resistance, mechanical properties, and how to solve this problem has been a challenge. This paper adopts a novel flame retardant method of inserting nanofiber films of flame retardant into the interlayer of the composite laminate to achieve fire resistance, higher strength, and toughness of the composite. In this work, pentaerythritol phosphate (PEPA) nanofiber films with phenoxy resin (PKHH) as a carrier was prepared by electrospinning and placed between the layers of CF/EP laminates. The results show that a dense charring layer with isolation and protection functions can be formed between the layers of the CF/EP intercalated by the nanofiber films during combustion. Accordingly, the nanofiber film containing 50 wt% PEPA with the thickness of only 30 μm increased the LOI value of CF/EP from 27.8% to 34.7%, while reducing the THR and pSD by 14% and 27.2% respectively. What’s more, due to the Ex-situ toughening effect of the nanofibers, the flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength, and compression strength after the impact of the modified CF/EP were increased by a maximum of 11.2%, 11.3%, and 12.2% compared to unmodified CF/EP. This work proves the feasibility of interlayer flame retardant fiber reinforced resin composites, and provides a new method to prepare high-performance flame-retardant composites.