Multiscale Modeling of the Impact Response of Triaxially Braided Polymer Matrix Composites, Including Effects of Adiabatic Heating

One of the issues with the widespread use of polymer matrix composites in marine applications is their high susceptibility to environmental degradation, particularly hygrothermal conditions. Therefore, the present research intends to contribute to the better protection of the marine polymer matrix composites through the introduction of a newly developed fiber metal laminate for marine applications. This type of fiber metal laminate consists of a marine aluminum alloy of 5083 alternating with glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite layers. In order to evaluate the characterization of the environmental durability of this novel material, the specimens made of fiber metal laminates as well as commercial woven glass–epoxy composites were exposed to hygrothermal aging and hygrothermal cycling in boiling salt water. Then, to study the structural degradation caused by exposure to salt water, the mechanical properties of fiber metal laminate and woven glass–epoxy specimens under three-point bending and impact loading were evaluated. Results show that exposure to the saline environment generally decreased the flexural strength of woven glass–epoxy and fiber metal laminate specimens, whereas a smaller deterioration in flexural stiffness of both laminate types was found. Moreover, it was observed that the hygrothermal conditioning in salt water did not affect significantly the impact properties of both the fiber metal laminate and woven glass–epoxy specimens as compared to the flexural properties.

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The Effects of a Compatibilizer for Improving Mechanical Properties on Polymer Matrix Composites

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.877.3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 877 ◽

pp. 3-8

Author(s):

Prathumrat Nuyang ◽

Atiwat Wiriya-Amornchai ◽

Watthanaphon Cheewawuttipong

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Tensile Strength ◽

Impact Strength ◽

Young’S Modulus ◽

Polymer Matrix ◽

Polymer Matrix Composites ◽

Fine Powder ◽

Matrix Composites ◽

Elongation At Break ◽

The Impact

The effect of compatibilizer agent was studied when adding Aluminum fine powder (Al) to reinforce in Polypropylene (PP) by compared between polymer matrix composites (PMCs) and PMCs added Polypropylene graft maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH).The average particle size of the aluminum fine powder was around 75 μm filled in polypropylene with different proportions of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10wt%. PMCs were prepared using the internal mixer. The results found that when the amount of aluminum fine powder increased, the mechanical properties had changed, i.e., tensile strength, and Young’s Modulus increased, while the impact strength and elongation at break decreased. But, when adding compatibilizer 1wt% it was found that the trend of tensile strength, and Young’s Modulus increased that compared with non-compatibilizer, but the impact strength and elongation at break decreased. The part of the morphology of PMCs with non-compatibilizer was found that the particle of aluminum fine powder dispersed in the matrix phase, but there were many microvoids between filler and matrix. But, PMCs with compatibilizer caused the microvoids between filler and matrix to be reduced.

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