Synergistic Effects of Incorporating Various Types of Nanoparticles on Tensile, Flexural, and Quasi-static Behaviors of GFRP Composites

Different loadings of single and hybrid MWCNT, CuO, TiO2, and clay nanoparticles were incorporated into glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites to investigate the synergetic effects of nanoparticles addition on tensile, flexural, and quasi-static behaviors. Fourteen types of incorporated GFRP composites were fabricated using hand layup method. The results showed that the addition of single loading of MWCNT can improve mechanical properties of GFRPs, significantly. For instance, incorporation of 0.3 wt. % MWCNT led to 40 % enhancement of elastic modulus and 66 % increasing of maximum tensile stress, compared to neat GFRP composites. Moreover, the hybrid addition of MWCNTs and CuO nanoparticle could increase tensile properties of incorporated GFRP composites, significantly; due to synergetic effect of hybrid addition of nanoparticles. Based on flexural tests, specimen containing 0.3 wt. % MWCN+1 wt. % TiO2+0.5 wt. % CuO and specimen containing 0.3 wt. % MWCNT+0.5 wt. % CuO have shown the highest elevation of bending properties among hybrid composites. Quasi-static test results illustrated that incorporated GFRP composites with 0.5 wt. % of MWCNT with the span length of 7x7 mm(2) resulted in significantly higher peak load. Finally, FESEM and elemental mapping images were examined to study the enhancement mechanisms and the state of nanoparticles' dispersion into the fabricated GFRP specimens.

Automated summary

This study investigates the synergistic effects of adding different loadings of nanoparticles (MWCNT, CuO, TiO2, and clay) into glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites on their mechanical properties. The results show that adding MWCNT and CuO nanoparticles significantly improves the tensile properties of GFRP composites. The hybrid addition of MWCNT, TiO2, and CuO nanoparticles demonstrates the highest enhancement of bending properties. Quasi-static tests indicate that GFRP composites with 0.5 wt.% MWCNT exhibit significantly higher peak load.