Synthesis and characterization of Carbon fibre reinforced LY556 epoxy Matrix composites with barite Particulate fillers

Abstract

Due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, good rigidity, resistance to corrosion and fatigue, good tensile strength, low coefficient of thermal expansion, high stiffness and strength, low density, nonpoisonous nature, excellent shielding ability against electromagnetic interference, biologically inert nature, and excellent permeability to X-rays, carbon fibre is proposed to be the ideal reinforcement for epoxy matrix. As a result, CFRP composites are the most widely used material for a variety of applications in the automotive and aerospace sectors, the construction of lightweight aircraft structures, wind turbine blades. newlineA thorough investigation conducted to study the benefits and drawbacks of using carbon fibre as a reinforcement in an epoxy matrix revealed that when reinforcing carbon fibres in a polymer matrix, the principal fault noticed is inadequate interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibre and the matrix phase, which leads to predominant failure under compressive and flexural loads. However, the low compressive strength along the fibre direction might be mitigated to some extent by combining CFRP composites with an appropriate filler material. newlineThe novelty of this works lies in the effective utilization of the micro-barite particles as the filler material for CFRP composites. In all composites where no in-situ compound formations are expected, filler materials chosen are inert in nature. Barite is an inert filler material and is available abundantly at a low cost. The filler materials with micron-level particle size occupy the voids spaces in the matrix and act as a barrier to matrix cracking. This could extend the load to failure. newline