Title: Environmental effects on the interlaminar fracture in polymer hybrid composites

Authors: K.V. Arun; M.H. Divakar

Addresses: Department of Studies in Industrial and Production Engineering, University BDT College of Engineering, Davangere-577004, India. ' Department of Studies in Industrial and Production Engineering, University BDT College of Engineering, Davangere-577004, India

Abstract: A systematic experimental investigation has been carried out on glass/textile fabric reinforced polymer hybrid composites with different volume fraction of the reinforcements, in order to study the effect of hybridisation on the interlaminar delamination fracture. The interlaminar fracture behaviour has been studied under bending loading using short beam bend test specimen. The influence of normal water, sea water and the saline water immersion on the behaviour of fracture has been identified. The nature of fracture has been analysed with the aid of scanning electron microscopy. The results have revealed that the addition of the silk-based textile fabric to the glass fabric has increased the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and the flexural strength. It is identified that these properties are very much prone to the environmental conditions. The normal water and the sea water immersion has reduced the strength of these laminates, whereas, the saline water treatment has increased the strength. The nature of fracture as a function of the reinforcement volume and environmental conditions has been identified by the SEM scans.

Keywords: polymer hybrid composites; interlaminar fracture; flexural strength; environmental effects; short beam bend test; glass fabric; textiles; silk fabric; fabric reinforced composites; interlaminar delamination; saline water treatment; seawater immersion; water immersion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2011.043576

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2011 Vol.6 No.5, pp.410 - 424

Published online: 09 Nov 2011 *

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