Preparation and characterization of Kevlar/glass fiber laminates with a nanoclay enhanced epoxy matrix

Chinnasamy Vivekanandhan; Pavayee Subramani Sampath; Suresh Sagadevan

doi:10.3139/120.111120

Article

Preparation and characterization of Kevlar/glass fiber laminates with a nanoclay enhanced epoxy matrix

Chinnasamy Vivekanandhan , Pavayee Subramani Sampath and Suresh Sagadevan

Published/Copyright: December 28, 2017

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From the journal Materials Testing Volume 60 Issue 1

Abstract

Improvement of existing composite material to obtain new composite materials is the real challenge for most of the materials engineers. So, there are huge research endeavors emerging in the field of composites to grow new materials with upgraded mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Among these, fiber reinforced polymer composites are the most charming as a result of their sufficient utilization in different applications which incorporates numerous mechanical, automotive and structural components. The present study investigates the mechanical characteristics of a Kevlar/glass fiber reinforced with Cloisite 30B nanoclay. Kevlar fibers have been widely used as impact-resistant reinforcement in composite materials. However, there are very few works about the effects of nanoclays on the impact strength of Kevlar/glass laminates. Nanoclay Cloisite 30B (2 wt.-%) was dispersed in the epoxy system. Such laminates manufactured with epoxy resin filled by 2 wt.-% of nanoclay showed the best performance in terms of elastic recuperation and penetration threshold. The opposite tendency was observed for the displacement at peak load. However, marginal benefits can be found when compared with the results obtained for laminates filled by 2 wt.% nanoclay. Kevlar/glass fibers were reinforced with different particulate fractions of chosen nanoclay and the specimens were investigated regarding mechanical properties such as tensile, impact and flexural strength.

Kurzfassung

Die Verbesserung neuer Kompositwerkstoffe auf der Basis von existierenden Kompositwerkstoffen stellt für die meisten Werkstoffentwickler eine wirkliche Herausforderung dar. Daher gibt es große Forschungsanstrengungen auf dem Gebiet der Komposite, um neue Materialien mit verbesserten mechanischen, elektrischen und thermischen Eigenschaften zu entwickeln. Unter diesen stellen die faserverstärkten Polymerkomposite die interessantesten dar, die weitverbreitet in verschiedenen Anwendungen, wozu zahlreiche mechanische, strukturelle und Komponenten des Automobilbaus zählen, eingesetzt werden. In der diesem Beitrag zugrunde liegenden Studie wurden die mechanischen Charakteristika von Kevlar/Glasfaser-verstärkten Kompositen untersucht, die mit Cloisite 30B Nanotonerde verstärkt wurden. Kevlar-Fasern werden breitflächig als schlagfeste Verstärkung in Kompositwerkstoffen genutzt. Allerdings gibt es bisher nur wenig Arbeiten über die Auswirkungen von Nanotonerde auf die Schalgfestigkeit von Kevlar/Glasfaser-Laminaten. Hierzu wurde die Nanotonerde Cloisite 30B mit 2 wt.-% in dem Epoxidsystem dispergiert. Solche Laminate, die mit einem mit 2 wt.-% gefüllten Epoxidharz hergestellt wurden, haben das beste Verhalten in Bezug auf die Erhaltung ihrer Plastizität und die Durchstoßkennwerte gezeigt. Die gegensätzliche Tendenz wurde bezüglich der Verschiebung unter Spitzenlast beobachtet. Dennoch können geringe Vorteile erkannt werden, wenn die Ergebnisse mit denen der mit 2 wt.-% Nanotonerde gefüllten Laminate verglichen wurden. In den Forschungsarbeiten wurden Kevlar/Glasfasern mit verschiedenen Partikelfraktionen der gewählten Nanotonerde verstärkt und die Proben wurden hinsichtlich der mechanischen Eigenschaften untersucht, wie der Zugfestigkeit, der Schlagfestigkeit und der Scherfestigkeit.

*Correspondence Address, Associate Prof. Dr. C. Vivekanandhan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Arulmurugan College of Engineering, Karur, Tamil Nadu, India, E-mail: cvivekmech2010@gmail.com

Assoc. Prof. Chinnasamy Vivekanandhan received his BEng in Mechanical Engineering at Vinayaka Missions Kirupananda Variyar Engineering College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. He received his MEng (Engineering Design) at Anna University, Chennai, India. He is pursuing his PhD in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Anna University. Currently, he is working as Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Arulmurugan College of Engineering, Karur, Tamil Nadu, India. His area of research interest includes composite materials and manufacturing. Furthermore, he has 15 years of teaching experience and 2 ½ years of industrial experience.

Prof. Dr. Pavayee Subramani Sampath received his MTech in Polymer Science and Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the same university. He is currently working as Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering College, K. S. R. College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests include composite materials, manufacturing and fracture mechanics. He has 16 years of teaching experience and 2 years of industrial experience. He is a member of the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), New Delhi, and Society for Failure Analysis.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Suresh Sagadevan is presently working as Assistant Professor in Physics, AMET University, Chennai, India. He obtained his MSc, MPhil and PhD in Physics from Madras University, India.

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Published Online: 2017-12-28

Published in Print: 2018-01-04

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https://doi.org/10.3139/120.111120