Effect of Nylon-66 nano-fiber interleaving on impact damage resistance of epoxy/carbon fiber composite laminates

Sixteen-ply quasi-isotropic composite laminates of plain and interleaved AS4/3501-6 composite laminates clamped all around were impact tested to assess the improvement in impact resistance of composite laminates that have been interleaved by electrospun Nylon-66 nanofabric. The impact velocity, force, and energy ranged from 2.0 to 4.0 m/s, 900 to 2100 N and 0.46 to 1.80 J, respectively. Based on this preliminary study, results showed that; polymer nanofabric interleaving marginally increased the laminate thickness, by about 2.0%. Polymer nanofabric interleaving increased the threshold impact force by about 60%, reduced the rate of impact damage growth rate to one-half with impact height and reduced impact damage growth rate from 0.115 to 0.105 mm(2)/N with impact force. The concept has merit for more detailed study for optimizing and for multi-functionalizing fiber reinforced composite laminates. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.