Impact of hybrid reinforcement (nano- and macro-) over quasi- isotropic symmetrically designed GFRP composites on short beam strength properties

Abstract

Abstract. Carbon fillers like carbon nanotubes, short carbon fibers, carbon black and graphene are considered to be highly potential fillers (from macro to nanoscale) to improve mechanical characteristics of polymer matrix composites. In this work, three different samples of glass fiber reinforced composite laminates (GFRP) were prepared (1) neat GFRP, (2) MWCNT reinforced GFRP composite and (3) MWCNT with short-carbon fiber fillers (SCFF) or hybrid reinforced GFRP and tested for short beam strength (SBS). The SBS tests were performed on Hounsfield H50KS universal testing machine (UTM) at a strain rate of 0.05 mm/min. The fabrication of eight layered symmetrical glass/epoxy laminate was done by using press molding machine at 200 KN load. The results justified the significance of MWCNTs reinforcement and hybrid reinforced GFRP over neat GFRP specimen.

Fabrication, Functionalization, and Application of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Polymer Composite: An Overview

“…The homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in a polymer matrix plays a crucial role in the preparation of polymer composites based on interfacial interactions between CNTs and the polymer matrix. Establishing a poor dispersion leads to the agglomeration when the load is applied beyond limit, resulting in lower values of mechanical properties [ 149 , 150 ]. This phenomenon is in agreement with the findings of a previous study carried out by Jia et al (1999) [ 151 ] on the investigation of PMMA as a matrix, together with CNT reinforcement.…”

Efficacy of carbon nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane interlayer in augmenting the impact strength of glass fiber/epoxy composites

“…27,28 Among these, the incorporation of nanofillers such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene as second reinforcing fillers in conventional GFRPs is found to be an efficient strategy to enhance their interfacial and mechanical properties. [29][30][31] The CNTs are incorporated either by grafting them on fibers or by dispersing CNTs in the polymer matrix to fabricate multiscale composites (multiscale denotes the length scales of two reinforcing fillers). In both approaches, the incorporation of CNTs creates an interphase region and thus enhances the interfacial and average mechanical properties of composites.…”