Glass fibres reinforced acrylic thermoplastic resin-based tri-block copolymers composites: Low velocity impact response at various temperatures

A laminate composite based on the new Elium (R) acrylic matrix and glass fibres has been prepared by an infusion process at ambient temperature in order to replace thermoset-based laminate composites with an equivalent recyclable thermoplastic based composites. In order to enhance the impact resistance of the composite, the acrylic resin has been toughened by adding different amounts of acrylic tri-block copolymers (Nanostrength (R)). The composite plates were subjected to low velocity impact tests, performed at different impact energies and temperatures. Tomographic observations have been performed on impacted samples, in order to show the effect of all-acrylic block copolymers concentrations, temperatures and incident energy on the damage extension in the composites. The impact resistance was measured in terms of load peak, absorbed energy, penetration threshold and damage extension. The low velocity impact results indicate that the addition of Nanostrength leads to an improved impact resistance, especially at high impact energy levels. When the test temperature decreases both unfilled laminates and those filled with Nanostrength exhibit a large impact resistance characterised by the return of impactor for all the impact energies. Tomographic observations reveal that the damage area increased with the increase of both impact energy and temperature. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.