Abstract
Double-cantilever-beam tests were applied to investigate the mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of carbon fibre/epoxy laminates, in which the epoxy matrices were incorporated with rubber and silica nano-particles, either singly or jointly. It is shown that the toughness is improved owing to the presence of these nano-particles although nano-rubber is more effective than nano-silica. Further, by keeping the total particle weight percentage constant in epoxies (e.g., at 8 and 12 wt.%) filled with equal amount of nano-silica and nano-rubber, the interlaminar toughness values of the hybrid laminates are always higher than those with nano-silica filled epoxies but lower than those with nano-rubber filled matrices. Scanning electron microscopy examination of the delaminated surfaces of composite laminates filled with nano-particles revealed that cavitation of nano-rubber particles/void growth and debonding of nano-silica from epoxy matrix are responsible for the improved interlaminar toughness observed. It is also shown that the bulk toughness of nano-particle filled epoxies cannot be fully transferred to the interlaminar toughness of composite laminates, being limited by the constraint effect imposed by the carbon fibres. Finally, the role of fibre-bridging on the delaminated crack and hence delamination toughness is discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 90-94 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Composites Part B: Engineering |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- A. Carbon fibre composite
- A. Rubber nano-particles
- A.Silica nano-particles
- B. Mode I delamination
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ceramics and Composites
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering