The influence of graphene reinforced electrospun nano-interlayers on quasi-static indentation behavior of fiber-reinforced epoxy composites

• Published in: Fibers and polymers Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 322 - 333
• Main Authors: Goodarz, M., Bahrami, S. H., Sadighi, M., Saber-Samandari, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Fiber Society 01-02-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aramids; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electrospinning; Graphene; Hardness tests; Mats; Nanostructure; Optimization; Polymer matrix composites; Polymer Sciences; Graphene reinforced nanofibers; Polymer composites; Interleaving; Indentation; Aramid
• ISSN: 1229-9197; 1875-0052
• DOI: 10.1007/s12221-017-6700-3

The aim of this research is to investigate the development and evaluation of hybrid multi-scale aramid/epoxy composites interleaved with electrospun graphene nanoplatelets/nylon 66 (GNPs/PA66) mats. The reinforced nanofiber mats were explored for their best mechanical properties and PA66 nanofibers with 1 wt% GNPs were selected for composite production. Quasi-static indentation tests were performed on both pristine and nanofiber-modified composites. The experimental results revealed that the introduction of reinforced interleaves within the interlaminar interfaces of composites promotes fracture toughness compared to pristine interleaves. It is shown that there is a particular interleaf thickness for optimum toughening effect of nanofibers. The optimum thicknesses for pristine and reinforced interleaves are 35 and 17.5 μm, respectively.