Journal
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Volume 104, Issue -, Pages 66-73Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2014.09.005
Keywords
Nano composites; Resin transfer moulding (RTM); Delamination; Fracture toughness
Categories
Funding
- Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology of Flanders (IWT)
- IWT Strategic Basic Research Grant [121156]
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Delamination and brittle matrix fracture has since long been a problem of fibre reinforced composites. This paper investigates if polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibre nonwovens can increase the interlaminar fracture toughness of resin transfer moulded glass fibre/epoxy laminates, without causing problems during impregnation and without negatively affecting other (mechanical) properties. The mode I fracture toughness was shown to be dependent on both the nanofibre content as well as on how the nanofibres were introduced into the laminates. Almost 100% improvement in fracture toughness could be achieved by electrospinning the PCL nanofibres on both sides of the glass fibre mats prior to impregnation. This led to a model fracture toughness of over 1200 J/m(2). Tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of the toughened laminates were not affected by the PCL nanofibres. It could be concluded that even state of the art infusion resins with a high intrinsic fracture toughness can benefit significantly from nanofibre toughening. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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