Fabrication and characterization of functionally graded nanoclay/glass fiber/epoxy hybrid nanocomposite laminates

• Published in: Iranian polymer journal 2017-09, Vol.26 (9), p.673-680
• Main Authors: Megahed, Ahmed Abou El-Wafa, Megahed, Mona
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bearing strength; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Clay; Composites; Fiber reinforcement; Functionally gradient materials; Glass; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; Glass-epoxy composites; Impact strength; Laminates; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Nanocomposites; Natural Materials; Original Paper; Polymer matrix composites; Polymer Sciences; Repair & maintenance; Ultimate tensile strength; Water absorption; Water hardness
• ISSN: 1026-1265; 1735-5265
• DOI: 10.1007/s13726-017-0552-y

In this work, hardness, tensile, impact, bearing strength and water absorption tests were performed to study the mechanical properties of stepwise graded and non-graded hybrid nanocomposites. Three different stepwise graded nanocomposites and one non-graded (homogeneous) nanocomposite with the same geometry and total nanoclay content of 10 wt% were designed and prepared. Moreover, one neat glass fiber laminate was manufactured. The results of the tests indicated that addition of the graded and non-graded nanoclay improves hardness over neat glass fiber reinforcement. The maximum increase in hardness of about 53% over neat specimen is obtained for specimens that have the highest weight percentage (2 wt%) of the clay nanoparticles on its surface (S-specimen and the side of F-specimen that reinforced with 2 wt% nanoclay). The gradation process results in an increase in hardness of about 11% compared with non-graded (homogeneous) specimen. In addition, an improvement of 11.9% in strain-to-failure is achieved with specimen having greatest amount of nanoclay in the middle over neat glass fiber/epoxy composite. The other nanoclay-filled glass fiber composites have strain-to-failure close to neat glass fiber/epoxy. The addition of nanoclay reinforcement has insignificant effect on ultimate tensile strength, tensile modulus, water absorption, bearing strength and impact strength compared with neat glass fiber/epoxy.