Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

An experimental investigation was carried out on the graphite/epoxy composites with two different fibre surface conditions to identify the effect of fibre-matrix adhesion on the impact and dynamic mechanical properties. The results obtained from Charpy and falling weight impact tests did not show a clear influence of fibre-matrix adhesion on the impact properties of the composites. This is attributed to the highly localised damage process of impact tests, in which the main damage mechanism is the fibre breakage and there are no extensive delamination and fibre pull-out mechanisms involved. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is a non-destructive method and it is different from the common methods for characterisation of fibre-matrix interfacial properties such as fibre pull-out and fibre fragmentation tests in which fibre-matrix interface debonding is produced. The results of DMA tests indicate the dynamic properties of the composites are not very sensitive to the change of fibre-matrix adhesion. During the DMA tests, there is no or little fibre-matrix debonding induced. Therefore, the DMA method may not be very applicable for evaluating the fibre-matrix interfacial adhesion in practical applications.

Keywords

graphite/epoxy composites fibre-matrix adhesion dynamic mechanical analysis impact

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Williams, J. G. and Rhodes, M. D. 1982. "Effect of Resin on Impact Damage Tolerance of Graphite/Epoxy Laminates," Composite Materials: Testing and Design (Sicth Conference), ASTM STP 787, I. M. Daniel , ed., American Society of Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 450-480.

2. KIm, J. K. , Macky, D. B. and Mai, Y. M. 1993. "Drop-Weight Impact Damage Tolerance of CFRP with Rubber Modified Epoxy Matrix," Composites, 24:458-494.

3. Chamis, C. C. and Sinclair, J. H. 1985. "Impact Resistance of Fibre Composites: Energy-Absorbing Mechanisms and Environmental Effects," Research Advances in Conmpoistes in the United States and Japan, ASTM STP 864, J. R. Vinson and M. Taya , ed., American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 326-345.

4. Cantwell, W. J. and Morton, J. 1991. "Impact Resistance of Composite Materials: A Review," Composites, 22(5):347-362.

5. Roger, K. F. , Sidney, G. R. and Kinston-Lee, D. M. 1971. "Ballastic Impact Resistance of Carbon-Fibre Laminates," Composites, 2:237-241.

6. McGarry, F. J. , Mandell, J. F. and Kawamoto, J. 1989. "Impace Resistance of Rubber Modified Carbon Fibre Composite," Proceedings of 21st International SAMPE Conference on Advanced Composites, Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering, Covina, CA, USA, 195-205.

7. Adams, R. D. 1990. "Damping Properties Analysis of Composites," Engineered Materials Handbook: Composites Structures Analysis and Design, ASM International, Metals Park, OH, 3:206-217.

8. Zorowski, C. F. and Murayama, T. 1972. Proceedings of the Ist International Conference on Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, Society of Materials Science, Kyoto, 5:28-28.

9. Burton, D. E. and Blackketter, D. M. 1993. "Relating Dynamic Properties to Interfacial Bonding in Pitch-Based Carbon Fibre/Epoxy Composites," Americal Society of Mechanical Engineers, Noise Control and Acoustics Division Publication, NCA Dynamic Characterisation of Advanced Materials Proceedings of the 1993 ASME Winter Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, 16:23-26.

10.

10. Wu, H. F. , Gu, W. , Lu, G.-Q. and Kampe, S. L. 1997. "Non-destructive Characterisation of Fibre-Matrix Adhesion in Composites by Vibration Damping," J.Mater. Sci., 32:1795-1798.

11.

11. Deng, S. and Ye, L. , 1999. "Influence of Fiber-Matrix Adhesion on Mechanical Properties of Graphite/Epoxy Composites: I. Tensile, Flexure, and Fatigue Properties," Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 18:1021-1040.

12.

12. Deng, S. and Ye, L. 1999. "Influence of Fiber-Matrix Adhesion on Mechanical Properties of Graphite/Epoxy Composites: II. Interlaminar Fracture and Impact Properties," Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 18:1041-1057.

13.

13. Deng, S. , Ye, L. , Mai, Y.-W. and Liu, H.-Y. 1998. "Evaluation of Fibre Tensile Strength and Fibre/Matrix Adhesion Using fibre Fragmentation Tests," Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 29(4):423-434.

14.

14. Deng, S. , Ye, L. and Mai, Y.-W. 1998. "Interfacial Shear Strength of Carbon Fibre/Epoxy Model Composites Evaluated by a Single fibre Pull-Out Test Method," Advanced Composite Materials, 7(2):169-182.

15.

15. Hirai, Y. , Hamada, H. and Kim, J. K. 1998. "Impact Response of Woven Glass-Fabric Composites: I. Effect of Fibre Surface Treatment," Compos. Sci. Technol., 58:91-104.

16.

16. Operator's Manual, DMA 2980 Dynamic Mechanical Analyser. TA Instruments, 109 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, USA.

Influence of Fibre-Matrix Adhesion on Mechanical Properties of Graphite/Epoxy Composites: III. Impact and Dynamic Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References