Damage resistance durability and damage tolerance of polymer matrix composites

Abstract

In recent years, material scientists and engineers in the aerospace, automotive, marine, and construction sectors have been looking for a new generation of polymer composites with improved damage resistance, durability, and damage tolerance. Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites (FRPCs) have potential characteristics such as high strength to weight ratio, greater load carrying capacity, and long-term durability, making them a viable material for structural industry requirements. Due to relatively low strength and poor damage tolerance, Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites (GFRPCs) have been confined to being used as a primary structural material. Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites (CFRPCs) have a high damage tolerance and resistance capabilities, however carbon fibres are very costly. Hybridization of carbon and glass fibres will enable us to retain the advantages of both fibres and make them acceptable materials for structural applications with desirable characteristics at a reasonable cost.In many industrial applications, epoxy resin is commonly utilised as a matrix of the composites because of low viscosity, higher adhesion strength with fibres, good wetting characteristics, lower shrinkage and good corrosion resistance properties. However, epoxy resins are highly brittle and have low impact and fracture toughness properties. Recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology could provide a solution to this difficulty. Nano-sized particles of SiC, Al2O3, TiO2, B4C, and nanoclays are suitable filler materials for enhancing the potential properties of epoxy-based composites. The synergistic impact of mixing several nanomaterials with polymer matrices must be appreciated more than the effect of single nanofillers newline newline newline newline