Mechanical properties in glass fiber PVC-foam sandwich structures from different chopped fiber interfacial reinforcement through vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) processing

Sandwich beams were prepared by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, containing a PVC foam core covered with two glass fiber/epoxy composite face sheets. Their mechanical properties were measured by impact test and three-point bending (3 PB) test. To improve the interfacial bonding between the PV...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Composites science and technology 2017-05, Vol.144, p.202-207
Main Authors: Chen, Qihui, Linghu, Ting, Gao, Yingju, Wang, Zhi, Liu, Yaqing, Du, Ruikui, Zhao, Guizhe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beams (structural)
Bend strength
Bend tests
Chopped fiber
Crack bridging
Energy absorption
Epoxy resins
Fiber bridging
Fiber reinforcement
Glass fiber reinforced plastics
Glass-epoxy composites
Impact strength
Interfacial cracks
Mechanical properties
Mechanical property
Polyvinyl chloride
Resin transfer molding
Sandwich structures
Scanning electron microscopy
Sheets
Studies
Toughening
Wettability
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Summary:Sandwich beams were prepared by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, containing a PVC foam core covered with two glass fiber/epoxy composite face sheets. Their mechanical properties were measured by impact test and three-point bending (3 PB) test. To improve the interfacial bonding between the PVC foam core and glass fiber face sheets as well as the mechanical properties of the sandwich structure, different chopped fibers (aramid fiber, carbon fiber and glass fiber) with the same lengths and densities were inserted at the face-core interface during fabrication. Compared with the beam without interfacial reinforcement, the bending strength and energy absorption were increased by up to 100% and close to 161% respectively under 3 PB condition, and the impact strength after interfacial reinforcement using chopped glass fiber was augmented by nearly 45%, surpassing those of other two kinds of chopped fibers. The interfacial distribution characteristics of different chopped fibers were tested using scanning electron microscopy. The toughening and strengthening mechanisms for mechanical properties were analyzed based on the interfacial crack-bridging and wettability between chopped fiber and resin.
ISSN:0266-3538
1879-1050
DOI:10.1016/j.compscitech.2017.03.033