Fracture and fatigue behaviour of epoxy nanocomposites containing 1-D and 2-D nanoscale carbon fillers

Abstract

The present paper describes improvements in the fracture resistance of epoxy polymers due to the addition of either (a) one-dimensional (1-D) carbon nanofibres (CNFs), or (b) two-dimensional (2-D) graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), or (c) hybrid combinations of these carbon nanofillers (i.e. using both CNFs and GNPs). The effects of the dimensional shape and concentration (i.e. 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt%) of the nanoscale carbon fillers are considered. The addition of CNFs, GNPs or hybrid combinations of CNFs and GNPs increases greatly the quasi-static fracture energy, G Ic , of the epoxy due to these nanofillers inducing multiple intrinsic (e.g. interfacial debonding and void growth) and extrinsic (e.g. pull-out and bridging) toughening mechanisms. A mechanistic model is presented to quantify the contributions from the different toughening mechanisms induced by the CNF and the GNP fillers which result in the improvements observed in the fracture energy. The resistance of the epoxy, modified with either the GNPs or the CNFs, to cyclic-fatigue loading is also increased by the presence of the carbon nanofillers.

Synergistic Effects of Graphene/Carbon Nanotubes Hybrid Coating on the Interfacial and Mechanical Properties of Fiber Composites

“…Herein, it depends on obtaining uniform dispersion of GnPs and CNTs in the sizing solvent, if researchers want to successfully achieve the multifunctional CFRP composites. As the more recently reported, the addition of different geometric shapes nanoparticles could be an effective way to achieve homogeneous dispersion [37,38]. The composites modified by hybrids nanoparticles have achieved better interfacial, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties [39].…”

“…It was reported that the long and flexible 1D nanoparticles bridged adjacent 2D nanoparticles and inhibited their aggregation, leading to an improvement of contact surface area between hybrid nanoparticles structures and the polymer [40]. A synergetic effect in terms of fracture energy and fatigue [37], tensile strength and elastic modulus [41] were reported in carbon nanofibers (CNF) and GnP hybrid nanoparticles composites. Better mechanical and thermal properties were reported in epoxy composites with 0.9 wt.% multi-graphene platelets (MGP) and 0.1 wt.% CNTs due to a more efficient network formation [37].…”

“…A synergetic effect in terms of fracture energy and fatigue [37], tensile strength and elastic modulus [41] were reported in carbon nanofibers (CNF) and GnP hybrid nanoparticles composites. Better mechanical and thermal properties were reported in epoxy composites with 0.9 wt.% multi-graphene platelets (MGP) and 0.1 wt.% CNTs due to a more efficient network formation [37]. However, most research studies have reported that hybrid nanoparticles were used to modify epoxy as mentioned above, utilizing hybrid coating as a functional sizing agent on CF surfaces has been less investigated.…”

Epoxy/Fly ash from Thermal Power Plant/Nanofiller Nanocomposite: Studies on Mechanical and Thermal Properties: A Review

“…The smallest GO sheet size shows maximum enhancement in fracture toughness [80]. Recently, Ladani et al [81] studied the effect of reinforcement of 1-D Carbon Nanofibres or 2-D graphene nanoplatelets or hybrid combinations of 1-D Carbon nanofibres and 2-D graphene nanoplatelets. The nanoscale carbon fillers were dispersed by (0.0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 wt%) to observe the effects of the dimensional shape and concentration.…”

Significant enhancement of fracture toughness and mechanical properties of epoxy resin using CTBN‐grafted epoxidized linseed oil

“…This disadvantage limits its application in high‐technology fields. Many techniques have been successfully employed to enhance the fracture toughness of EP …”