Studies on the flexural and thermomechanical properties of woven carbon/nanoclay-epoxy laminates

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 421; no. 1; pp. 298 - 306
• Main Authors: Chowdhury, F.H., Hosur, M.V., Jeelani, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-04-2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; DMA; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Nanoclay; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Post curing; Technology of polymers; VARIM; VARIM; Post curing; DMA; T g; Nanoclay; Heat treatment; Volume fraction; Nanoparticle; Fiber reinforced material; Epoxy resin; Surface analysis; Composite material; Glass transition; Tg; Curing(plastics); Nanocomposite; Carbon fiber; Clay; Scanning electron microscopy; Montmorillonite; Thermomechanical properties; Thermal properties; Bending strength; Woven material; Fractography; Bending test
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2006.01.074

A systematic study was carried out to investigate the effects of nanoclay particles on flexural and thermal properties of woven carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites. Different weight percentages of Nanomer
® I-28E nanoclay, a surface modified montmorillonite mineral, were dispersed in SC-15 epoxy using sonication route. The nanophased epoxy was then used to manufacture 6000 fiber tow-plain weave carbon/epoxy nanocomposites using vacuum assisted resin infusion molding (VARIM) process. Effect of post curing on these samples was also investigated. Three-point bend flexure and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) studies were carried out on eight and three layered samples, respectively. Maximum improvements in flexural strength and modulus were found for 2
wt.% nanoclay reinforced composites. Failure surface analysis of flexure samples was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed enhancement in thermomechanical properties. Glass transition temperature,
T
g of room temperature cured and thermally post cured samples showed an improvement of about 9 and 13
°C, respectively for 2
wt.% nanoclay loading.