This study investigates the effects of adding nanoclay particles to the polymer matrix of metal-composite laminates on their shear strength and interlaminar delamination using lap shear and three-point bending tests. Laminates were produced using two aluminum sheets as the skin layers and a polypropylene matrix as the core. Cloisite 30B nanoclay was used with weight percentages of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%. The specimens were subjected to lap shear and three-point bending tests. The failure surfaces were examined using a microscope. The results showed that the nanoclay particles change the shear strength of the specimens by affecting their interlaminar adhesive bonding. The lap shear test revealed that the maximum shear strength (0.41 MPa) was achieved at 5 wt%, while the three-point bending test indicated optimal performance at 3 wt% with a strength of 1.82 MPa. The lowest shear strengths (0.18 MPa in the lap shear test and 0.6 MPa in the three-point bending test) were obtained for the 7 wt% specimen. In specimens with 3 and 5 wt% nanoclay, the increase in interlayer adhesion and shear strength changed the failure mechanism from adhesive to cohesive failure.
ZalVMoslemi NaeiniHBahramianAR, et al.Evaluation of the effect of aluminum surface treatment on mechanical and dynamic properties of PVC/aluminum/fiber glass fiber metal laminates. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part E J Process Mech Eng2017; 231(6): 1197–1205.
3.
JenMHRTsengYCLinWH. Thermo-mechanical fatigue of centrally notched and unnotched AS-4/PEEK APC-2 composite laminates. Int J Fatig2006; 28: 901–909.
4.
AlderliestenRC. Designing for damage tolerance in aerospace: a hybrid material technology. Mater Des2015; 66: 421–428.
5.
Seyed YaghoubiALiawB. Effect of lay-up orientation on ballistic impact behaviors of GLARE 5 FML beams. Int J Impact Eng2013; 54: 138–148.
6.
DiharjoKAnwarMTariganRAP, et al.Effect of adhesive thickness and surface treatment on shear strength on single lap joint Al/CFRP using adhesive of epoxy/Al fine powder. AIP Conf Proc2016; 1708: 030030.
7.
LiuCDuDLiH, et al.Interlaminar failure behavior of GLARE laminates under short-beam three-point-bending load. Compos B Eng2016; 97: 361–367.
8.
WuGYangJM. The mechanical behavior of GLARE laminates for aircraft structures. JOM2005; 57: 72–79.
9.
PahrDHRammerstorferFGRosenkranzP, et al.A study of short-beam-shear and double-lap-shear specimens of glass fabric/epoxy composites. Compos B Eng2002; 33(2): 125–132.
10.
SchneiderKLaukeBBeckertW. Compression shear test (CST)–a convenient apparatus for the estimation of apparent shear strength of composite materials. Appl Compos Mater2001; 8: 43–62.
11.
OstapiukMBieniaśJ. Fracture analysis and shear strength of aluminum/CFRP and GFRP adhesive joint in fiber metal laminates. Materials2020; 13(1): 7.
12.
McDevittNTBraunWL. In: MittalKL (ed). The three point bend test for adhesive joints: formation, characteristics and testing. New York: Plenum Press, 1984.
13.
LacombeR. Adhesion measurement methods; Theory and practice. 1st ed.UK: CRC Taylor and Francis, 2005.
14.
BotelhoECSilvaRAPardiniLC, et al.A review on the development and properties of continuous fiber/epoxy/aluminum hybrid composites for aircraft structures. Mat Res2006; 9(3): 247–256.
15.
ZalVMoslemi NaeiniHBahramianAR, et al.Investigation and analysis of glass fabric/PVC composite laminates processing parameters. Sci Eng Compos Mater2018; 25: 529–540.
16.
PolMHLiaghatGH. Studies on the mechanical properties of composites reinforced with nanoparticles. Polym Compos2017; 38(1): 205–212.
17.
PolMHLiaghatGHZamaniE, et al.Investigation of the ballistic impact behavior of 2D woven glass/epoxy/nanoclay nanocomposites. J Compos Mater2015; 49(12): 1449–1460.
18.
PolMHLiaghatGH. Investigation of the high velocity impact behavior of nanocomposites. Polym Compos2016; 37(4): 1173–1179.
19.
RafiqAMerahNBoukhiliR, et al.Impact resistance of hybrid glass fiber reinforced epoxy/nanoclay composite. Polym Test2017; 57: 1–11.
20.
Bahari-SambranFEslami-FarsaniRArbab ChiraniS. The flexural and impact behavior of the laminated aluminum-epoxy/basalt fibers composites containing nanoclay: an experimental investigation. J Sandw Struct Mater2020; 22(6): 1931–1951.
21.
BoroumandFSeyedkashiSMHPolMH. Experimental study on forming of nanoclay-reinforced metal–composite laminates using deep drawing process. J Braz Soc Mech Sci Eng2020; 42(10): 541.
22.
BoroumandFSeyedkashiSMHPolMH. Experimental analysis of the warm stamping of metal/thermoplastic polymer nanocomposite laminates. Polym Compos2022; 43(2): 1090–1106.
23.
BoroumandFSeyedkashiSMHPolMH. Experimental study of mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of metal-composite laminates reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Thin-Walled Struct2023; 183: 110377.
24.
AlexandreMDuboisP. Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites: preparation, properties and uses of a new class of materials. Mater Sci Eng R Rep2000; 28(1-2): 1–63.
25.
TolleTBAndersonDP. Morphology development in layered silicate thermoset nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol2002; 62: 1033–1041.
26.
ChafidzAAliMAElleithyR. Morphological, thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of polypropylene-nanoclay composites prepared from masterbatch in a twin screw extruder. J Mater Sci2011; 46: 6075–6086.
27.
HoMWLamCKLauKT, et al.Mechanical properties of epoxy-based composites using nanoclays. Compos Struct2006; 75: 415–421.
28.
ShifaMTariqFBalochRA. Influence of carbon nanotubes on the interlaminar properties of carbon fiber aluminum metal laminates. Key Eng Mater2018; 778: 100–110.
29.
ZhaiLLLingGWangYW. Effect of nano-Al2O3 on adhesion strength of epoxy adhesive and steel. Int J Adhesion Adhes2008; 28(1): 23–28.
30.
MegahedMAbd El-bakyMAAlsaeedyAM, et al.An experimental investigation on the effect of incorporation of different nanofillers on the mechanical characterization of fiber metal laminate. Compos B Eng2019; 176: 107277.
31.
ReyesGKangH. Mechanical behavior of lightweight thermoplastic fiber–metal laminates. J Mater Process Technol2007; 186(1): 284–290.
32.
FereidoonAKordaniNRostamiyanY, et al.Effect of carbon nanotube on adhesion strength of E-glass/epoxy composite and alloy aluminum surface. World Appl Sci J2010; 9(2): 204–210.
33.
RahmanNAHassanAYahyaR, et al.Micro-structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of injection-molded glass fiber/nanoclay/polypropylene composites. J Reinforc Plast Compos2012; 31(4): 269–281.
34.
HaqueAShamsuzzohaMHussainF, et al.S2-glass/epoxy polymer nanocomposites. manufacturing, structures, thermal and mechanical properties. J Compos Mater2003; 37(20): 1821–1837.
35.
ChandradassJRamesh kumarMVelmuruganR. Effect of clay dispersion on mechanical, thermal and vibration properties of glass fiber-reinforced vinyl ester composites. J Reinforc Plast Compos2008; 27(15): 1585–1601.
36.
RahmanNAHassanAYahyaR, et al.Glass fiber and nanoclay reinforced polypropylene composites, Morphology, thermal and mechanical properties. Sains Malays2013; 42(4): 537–546.
37.
Bahari-SambranFMeuchelboeckJKazemi-KhasraghE, et al.The effect of surface modified nanoclay on the interfacial and mechanical properties of basalt fiber metal laminates. Thin-Walled Struct2019; 144: 106343.
38.
Senthil KumarMSMohana Sundara RajuNSampathPS, et al.Influence of nanoclay on mechanical and thermal properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer nanocomposites. Polym Compos2018; 39(6): 1861–1868.
39.
KhosraviHEslami-FarsaniR. Enhanced mechanical properties of unidirectional basalt fiber/epoxy composites using silane-modified Na+_montmorillonite nanoclay. Polym Test2016; 55: 135–142.
