Experimental investigation on the mechanical properties of grapheme based polymer matrix composite

Abstract

This research targets to develop a lightweight composite material with newlinedifferent methods of nano-reinforcement. The influence of adding graphene newlinenanoplatelets (GnPs) as nano-reinforcement on the mechanical behaviour of newlineunidirectional (UD) glass fabric reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites has newlinebeen investigated. The composites with different nano-reinforcement methods newlinewere fabricated through the hand lay-up technique followed by hot newlinecompression moulding. The GnPs were introduced through three different newlinemethods; i.e., (1) GnPs in the matrix; (2) GnPs on the fiber; (3) GnPs on both newlinethe matrix and the fiber in order to produce the composites on an industrial newlinescale and to yield superior mechanical properties. The quasi-static tests newline(tensile test, interfacial shear test and mode-I fracture test) and low velocity newlineimpact test were performed on the nano-reinforced composite materials. It newlinewas observed that the composite containing 0.5 wt% GnPs coated on the glass newlinefabric possessed 212% enhancement in the tensile strength over the pristine newlinecomposite. Similarly, the composites with 0.5 wt% GnPs on the fiber showed newlinean enhancement of 136% in interfacial shear strength over the pristine one, newlinewhich proves that the fiber/matrix adhesion was strong. Composites newlinecontaining 1 wt% GnPs on both the matrix and the fiber yielded higher peak newlineload with 45% improvement over the pristine composite in the low velocity newlineimpact test. Composite with 0.5 wt% GnPs in the matrix yielded higher newlinefracture toughness with 52% enhancement over the pristine composite in the newlinemode-I fracture test. The dynamic responses of the composites under fatigue newlineloading reveal that the pristine composites are more durable under fatigue newlineloading over composites with GnPs reinforcement. The fractography for newlinetensile and newline