Tensile and Fatigue Testings of Hybrid Al/APC-2 Nanocomposite Laminates at Elevated Temperature
To deal with the stringent operational demands the aerospace structural materials of light weight Aluminum alloy 2024 sheets and plies of carbon fibers reinforced thermoplastic matrix PEEK were used to sustain at least 80% of their mechanical properties at elevated temperature. The addition of nanoparticles SiO2 can enhance the composite laminate strength and stiffness. Also, Al 2024 sheets were treated by an anodic method of electroplating to increase surface roughness to achieve perfectly bonding with matrix PEEK. Then, the modified diaphragm curing process was adopted to make the innovative hybrid Al/APC-2 hybrid nanocomposite laminates. Next, both static tensile and fatigue tests were conducted at elevated temperature to obtain the mechanical properties, lives and failure mechanisms to verify the improved features of hybrid specimens. From tensile tests the mechanical properties of Al/APC-2 [4Al/0/±45/90/2Al]s hybrid laminates at elevated temperature were obtained. Although there is a big drop at 150°C, the reduction in strength from RT to 125°C is generally not significant. The longitudinal stiffness is almost unchanged at elevated temperature. After cyclic tension-tension (T-T) tests, the positions of received S-N curves go downwards as temperature rising. No delaminations were found in both tests. If the applied stress normalized by the ultimate strength at corresponding temperature, the normalized S-N curves are closer with some curve positions reversed. Significant improvement of manufacturing and enhancement of mechanical properties in hybrid laminates were achieved finally.