Bending Properties of a Functionally Graded Polymeric Composite Reinforced With a Hybrid Nanomaterial

Abstract

In this paper, functionally graded polymer hybrid nanocomposites have been produced by silica (SiO2) nanoparticles and alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles distributed in a matrix of epoxy during the ultra-sonication via hand lay-up method. The variation in nanoparticles volume fraction (Vf.) has been given in the thickness direction for reaching the gradation. Each layer has a thickness of 1.2 mm through various concentrations of nanoparticles and is sequentially cast in acrylic moulds to fabricate the graded composite sheet with a 6 mm thickness. To fabricate the functionally graded layers, various concentrations of different nanoparticles (1.5% SiO2, 1% SiO2, epoxy, 2% Al2O3 and 3% Al2O3) have been used for tensile and compressive testing each isotropic layer of functionally graded material (FGM). The mechanical property that was studied for pure epoxy, isotropic and FGM was the flexural resistance. The flexural properties of FGM, isotropic nanocomposite (1% SiO2 + 2% Al2O3) and pristine epoxy, for evaluating their mechanical properties, including flexural stress-strain criteria and flexural Young's modulus, were determined via a Three-point bending test, with loading from the side of silica and alumina for the hybrid-FGM and at one side for the isotropic hybrid nanocomposite and pristine epoxy. The mechanical properties (tensile and compression) and the density of every layer were obtained for the epoxy resin and nanocomposites. They can benefit from the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the Three-point bending test via the Design Modeler (ANSYS workbench). The results of experiments were confirmed via building a detailed 3D FE model. Also, the advanced deformation results from the FE model were found in good agreement with the experimental outcomes.