The Adhesion of Plasma Nanocoatings Controls the Shear Properties of GF/Polyester Composite

Abstract

High-performance fibre-reinforced polymer composites are important construction materials based not only on the specific properties of the reinforcing fibres and the flexible polymer matrix but also on the compatible properties of the composite interphase. First, oxygen-free (a-CSi:H) and oxygen-binding (a-CSiO:H) plasma nanocoatings of different mechanical and tribological properties were deposited on planar silicon dioxide substrates that closely mimic E-glass. The nanoscratch test was used to characterize the nanocoating adhesion expressed in terms of critical normal load and work of adhesion. Next, the same nanocoatings were deposited on E-glass fibres, which were used as reinforcements in the polyester composite to affect its interphase properties. The shear properties of the polymer composite were characterized by macro- and micromechanical tests, namely a short beam shear test to determine the short-beam strength and a single fibre push-out test to determine the interfacial shear strength. The results of the polymer composites showed a strong correlation between the short-beam strength and the interfacial shear strength, proving that both tests are sensitive to changes in fibre-matrix adhesion due to different surface modifications of glass fibres (GF). Finally, a strong correlation between the shear properties of the GF/polyester composite and the adhesion of the plasma nanocoating expressed through the work of adhesion was demonstrated. Thus, increasing the work of adhesion of plasma nanocoatings from 0.8 to 1.5 mJ·m−2 increased the short-beam strength from 23.1 to 45.2 MPa. The results confirmed that the work of adhesion is a more suitable parameter in characterising the level of nanocoating adhesion in comparison with the critical normal load.

Nanotechnology-enhanced fiber-reinforced polymer composites: Recent advancements on processing techniques and applications

“… [ 106 ] 3 Glass Fiber Polymer Matrix CSiH/CSiO: H plasma nano-coating PECVD employing a radiofrequency glow discharge The short-beam strength was enhanced using plasma nanocoatings, increasing from 23.1 MPa to 45.2 MPa. [ 107 ] 4 Glass Fiber Polymer Matrix GO coating Surface treatment method via Silane Coupling Agent Coating graphene oxide (GO) on the glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite resulted in a lower friction coefficient than the uncoated GFRP composite. [ 108 ] 5 Wheat Straw Particles Thermoplastic polylactic acid (PLA) 1 % Attapulgite nano clay (AT) and 0.1 % graphene nanoplatelets (G) Hybrid pre-treatment (i.e., hot water and steam, H + S) and surface functionalization Surface pre-treatment and functionalization improved the maximum tensile strength of the 10 H + S-AT and 10 H + S-G samples to 28 MPa and 27 MPa, respectively, higher than the surface without any treatment.…”

Shear Strength Range of GF/Polyester Composites Controlled by Plasma Nanotechnology

“…Plasma nanotechnology makes it possible to deposit functional interlayers that control the shear properties of fiber-reinforced composites with thermosetting resin, as demonstrated by previous studies [ 19 , 20 ]. A bundle of fibers was uniformly coated in a tubular plasma reactor and the adhesion of the interlayer (plasma coating) and its chemical properties were approximately the same for all fibers in the bundle as found by Zvonek et al [ 19 ].…”

On the Use of Polymer-Based Composites for the Creation of Optical Sensors: A Review

“…Since a composite is a material consisting of at least two phases separated by an interface border, it is essential that its components have appropriate adhesion to each other [ 189 ]. Otherwise, a significant decrease in mechanical strength could be observed, which may result in rapid destruction of the heterogenous material [ 188 , 190 , 191 , 192 , 193 ].…”

“…All this affects the properties of the resulting composite. For glass fiber (GF)/polyester composites, it has been shown that plasma treatment makes it possible to control the mutual adhesion and shear properties of the material [ 191 ].…”