Effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on low velocity impact properties of hybrid kevlar/basalt fiber reinforced epoxy based composites

Mehmet Bulut; Atban Rafea Abdo; Bahjat Hardan Sulaiman; Ömer Yavuz Bozkurt; Ahmet Erkliğ

doi:10.1515/ipp-2024-0144

Article

Effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on low velocity impact properties of hybrid kevlar/basalt fiber reinforced epoxy based composites

Mehmet Bulut , Atban Rafea Abdo , Bahjat Hardan Sulaiman , Ömer Yavuz Bozkurt and Ahmet Erkliğ

Published/Copyright: April 15, 2025

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Submit Manuscript Author Information

From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 40 Issue 2

Abstract

In the present study, the effects of hybridization of Basalt and Kevlar fibers in conjunction with the incorporation of Graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on the performance under low-velocity impact were experimentally examined. Two different hybrid structural configurations, reinforced with Basalt and Kevlar composites, were fabricated utilizing a hand lay-up technique followed by vacuum bag molding, with variations that included and excluded GnPs. The synergistic effects of hybridization coupled with the modification by GnPs on the impact characteristics of the Basalt/Kevlar hybrid composites were analyzed under an impact energy of 30 J while varying the GnPs loading. The optimal enhancement observed in the peak load and absorbed energy of the specimens was recorded as a 9.4 % and 45.7 % improvement, respectively, when Kevlar fibers were positioned in the outer layers; conversely, the specimens demonstrated enhancements of 13.35 % and 20.36 % in peak load and absorbed energy with the incorporation of 1 wt% and 3 wt% GnPs when Basalt fibers were situated in the outer layers. The increase of the impact properties of the hybrid structures was ascribed to the robust interfacial interactions established among the fibers, epoxy, and GnPs nanoparticles, which facilitated a notable enhancement in performance and optimal stress transfer from the fibers and nanoparticles to the matrix.

Keywords: basalt fibers; kevlar fibers; graphene nanoplatelets; hybridization; impact properties

Corresponding author: Mehmet Bulut, Sİvas Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, 58140 Sivas, Türkiye, E-mail: mehmet.bulut@cumhuriyet.edu.tr

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

References

D30.05 (2015). D7136/D7136M-12 A. Standard test method for measuring the damage resistance of a fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite to a drop-weight impact event. 15.03: 16, https://doi.org/10.1520/D7136_D7136M-12.Search in Google Scholar

Alsaadi, M., Younus, B., Erklig, A., Bulut, M., Bozkurt, O., and Sulaiman, B. (2021). Effect of graphene nano-platelets on mechanical and impact characteristics of carbon/Kevlar reinforced epoxy hybrid nanocomposites. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part C J. Mech. Eng. Sci. 235: 7139–7715, https://doi.org/10.1177/09544062211016883.Search in Google Scholar

Areshkin, D.A., Gunlycke, D., and White, C.T. (2007). Ballistic transport in graphene nanostrips in the presence of disorder: importance of edge effects. Nano Lett. 7: 204–210, ‏https://doi.org/10.1021/nl062132h.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Argon, A.S. and Cohen, R.E. (2003). Toughenability of polymers. Polymers 44: 6013–6032, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0032-3861(03)00546-9.Search in Google Scholar

Asaee, Z., Mohamed, M., De Cicco, D., and Taheri, F. (2017). Low-velocity impact response and damage mechanism of 3D fiber-metal laminates reinforced with amino-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets. Int. J. Compos. Mater. 7: 20–36‏.Search in Google Scholar

Aslan, Z., Karakuzu, R., and Okutan, B. (2003). The response of laminated composite plates under low-velocity impact loading. Compos. Struct. 59: 119–127, ‏https://doi.org/10.1016/s0263-8223(02)00185-x.Search in Google Scholar

Bulut, M. (2017). Mechanical characterization of basalt/epoxy composite laminates containing graphene nanopellets. Compos. Part B Eng. 122: 71–78, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.04.013.Search in Google Scholar

Czigány, T., Vad, J., and Pölöskei, K. (2005). Basalt fiber as a reinforcement of polymer composites. Peri. Polytech. Mech. Eng. 49: 3–14.Search in Google Scholar

Deák, T. and Czigány, T. (2009). Chemical composition and mechanical properties of basalt and glass fibers: a comparison. Text. Res. J. 79: 645–651, https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517508095597.Search in Google Scholar

Doğan, N.F., Bulut, M., Erkliğ, A., and Bozkurt, Ö.Y. (2019). Mechanical and low velocity impact characterization of carbon/glass hybrid composites with graphene nanoplatelets. Mater. Res. Exp. 6: 085304, https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ab1c03.Search in Google Scholar

Du, X., Skachko, I., Barker, A., and Andrei, E.Y. (2008). Approaching ballistic transport in suspended graphene. Nat. Nanotech 3: 491–495, https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.199.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Gómez-del Rıo, T., Zaera, R., Barbero, E., and Navarro, C. (2005). Damage in CFRPs due to low velocity impact at low temperature. Compos. Part B Eng. 36: 41–50, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2004.04.003.Search in Google Scholar

Gómez-Navarro, C., Burghard, M., and Kern, K. (2008). Elastic properties of chemically derived single graphene sheets. Nano Lett. 8: 2045–2049, ‏https://doi.org/10.1021/nl801384y.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Guo, J., Ren, L., Wang, R., Zhang, C., Yang, Y., and Liu, T. (2011). Water dispersible graphene noncovalently functionalized with tryptophan and its poly (vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite. Compos. Part B Eng. 42: 2130–2135, ‏https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2011.05.008.Search in Google Scholar

Gustin, J., Joneson, A., Mahinfalah, M., and Stone, J. (2005). Low velocity impact of combination Kevlar/carbon fiber sandwich composites. Compos. Struct. 69: 396–406, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2004.07.020.Search in Google Scholar

Hou, Y., Yee, C., Li, W., Koo, J.H., Li, L., Rech, B., Buffy, J.J., and Wu, H. (2022). A novel ablative material for thermal protection system: carbon fiber/polysiloxane composites. Aero. Sci. Tech. 129: 107822, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2022.107822.Search in Google Scholar

Jiang, H., Ji, Y., Hu, Y., Hu, X., and Ren, Y. (2022). Interfacial design and flexural property of CFRP/aluminum-honeycomb sandwich with aramid-pulp micro/nano-fiber interlays. Compos. Struct. 289: 115486, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.115486.Search in Google Scholar

Karamooz, M.R., Rahmani, H., and Khosravi, H. (2020). Hybrid effects of basalt and Kevlar fibers on low-velocity impact behavior of epoxy-based composites. Fibers Polym. 21: 2590–2598, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-020-1418-z.Search in Google Scholar

Kim, J.S., Yoon, H.J., and Shin, K.B. (2011). A study on crushing behaviors of composite circular tubes with different reinforcing fibers. Int. J. Imp. Eng. 38: 198–207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2010.11.007.Search in Google Scholar

Kuilla, T., Bhadra, S., Yao, D., Kim, N.H., Bose, S., and Lee, J.H. (2010). Recent advances in graphene based polymer composites. Prog. Polym. Sci. 35: 1350–1375, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2010.07.005.Search in Google Scholar

Lee, C., Wei, X., Kysar, J.W., and Hone, J. (2008). Measurement of the elastic properties and intrinsic strength of monolayer graphene. Science. 321: 385–388, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1157996.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Peterson, A.M., Jensen, R.E., and Palmese, G.R. (2011). Thermoreversible and remendable glass–polymer interface for fiber-reinforced composites. Compos. Sci. Tech. 71: 586–592, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2010.11.022.Search in Google Scholar

Qin, W., Vautard, F., Drzal, L.T., and Yu, J. (2015). Mechanical and electrical properties of carbon fiber composites with incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets at the fiber–matrix interphase. Compos. Part B Eng. 69: 335–341, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.10.014.Search in Google Scholar

Rafiee, M.A., Rafiee, J., Wang, Z., Song, H., Yu, Z.Z., and Koratkar, N. (2009). Enhanced mechanical properties of nanocomposites at low graphene content. ACS Nano. 3: 3884–3890, ‏https://doi.org/10.1021/nn9010472.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Randjbaran, E., Zahari, R., Abdul Jalil, N.A., and Abang Abdul Majid, D.L. (2014). Hybrid composite laminates reinforced with Kevlar/carbon/glass woven fabrics for ballistic impact testing. Scientific World J. ‏2014: 413753, https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/413753.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Sarasini, F., Tirillò, J., Ferrante, L., Valente, M., Valente, T., Lampani, L., Gaudenzi, P., Cioffi, S., Iannace, S., and Sorrentino, L. (2014). Drop-weight impact behaviour of woven hybrid basalt–carbon/epoxy composites. Compos. Part B Eng. 59: 204–220, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2013.12.006.Search in Google Scholar

Stoller, M.D., Park, S., Zhu, Y., An, J., and Ruoff, R.S. (2008). Graphene-based Ultracapacitors. Nano Lett. 8: 3498–3502, ‏https://doi.org/10.1021/nl802558y.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Sutherland, L.S. and Soares, C.G. (2005). Impact characterisation of low fibre-volume glass reinforced polyester circular laminated plates. Int. J. Imp. Eng. 31: 1–23‏.10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2003.11.006Search in Google Scholar

Sutherland, L.S. and Soares, C.G. (2005). Impact on low fibre-volume, glass/polyester rectangular plates. Compos. Struct. 68: 13–22‏.10.1016/j.compstruct.2004.02.010Search in Google Scholar

Uddin, M.E., Layek, R.K., Kim, N.H., Hui, D., and Lee, J.H. (2015). Preparation and properties of reduced graphene oxide/polyacrylonitrile nanocomposites using polyvinyl phenol. Compos. Part B Eng. 80: 238–245, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.06.009.Search in Google Scholar

Velumayil, R. and Palanivel, A. (2022). Hybridization effect on mechanical properties of basalt/Kevlar/epoxy composite laminates. Polymers 14: 1382, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14071382.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Wang, M., Pan, Z., Wu, Z., and Ying, Z. (2021). Effect of carbon/Kevlar asymmetric hybridization ratio on the low-velocity impact response of plain woven laminates. Compos. Struct. 276: 114574, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.114574.Search in Google Scholar

Wang, M., Pan, Z., Ying, Z., and Wu, Z. (2022). Symmetric and asymmetric intercalation effect on the low-velocity impact behavior of carbon/Kevlar hybrid woven laminates. Compos. Struct. 297: 115919, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.115919.Search in Google Scholar

Wei, B., Cao, H., and Song, S. (2010). Retracted: environmental resistance and mechanical performance of basalt and glass fibers. ‏Mater. Sci. Eng. A 527: 4708–4715, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2010.04.021,Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2024-10-24

Accepted: 2025-02-18

Published Online: 2025-04-15

Published in Print: 2025-05-26

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ipp-2024-0144

Keywords for this article

basalt fibers; kevlar fibers; graphene nanoplatelets; hybridization; impact properties