A novel optically-transparent glass fibre reinforced polymer matrix composite has been developed by infusing a clear epoxy resin system of matching refractive index into a conventional E-glass fabric preform. Transparent composites are manufactured using a low cost, environmentally friendly vacuum infusion process. Physical and mechanical tests have been conducted. Transparent composites manufactured using the modified vacuum infusion process had a fibre volume fraction of 40%. Tensile strength and tensile modulus of these composites were 374.9 MPa and 31.74 GPa respectively. The results indicate that the transparent composites possess good physical and mechanical properties. These transparent composites form a good base for developing new generation transparent armour systems.
AgarwalB.D., BroutmanL.J., and ChandrashekharaK.2006, “Analysis and Performance of Fiber Composites,”John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, Third Edition.
2.
MentaV.G.K., SundararamanS., ChandrashekharaK., PhanN., and NguyenT.2008, “Hybrid Composites using Out-of-Autoclave Process for Aerospace SubStructures,”Proceedings of the SAMPE Conference, Long Beach, CA, May 19–22, pp. 1–11.
3.
IbaH., ChangT., and KagawaY.“Optically Transparent Continuous Glass Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Matrix Composite: Fabrication, Optical and Mechanical Properties,”Composites Science and Technology, 62 (2002) 2043–2052.
4.
PatelP.J., DehmerP.G., and McCauleyJ.W.“Transparent Armor,”Advanced Materials and Process Technology, 4(3) (2000) 1–5.
5.
ChandrashekharaK., SchumanT., SundararamanS., DayD., VelezM., and PhanN.2008, “Manufacturing and Performance Evaluation of Glass-Ribbon Reinforced Transparent Composites,” Proceedings of the SAMPE Conference, Long Beach, CA, May 19–22, pp. 1–12.
6.
MatsukawaK., FukudaT., WataseS., and GodaH.“Preparation of Photo-curable Thiolene Hybrids and their Application for Optical Materials,”Journal of Photopolymer Science and Technology, 23 (2010) 115–119.
7.
HisayoshiI., and YutakaK.“Light Transmittance of Continuous Fibre-reinforced Composites: Analysis, Model Experiment and Parametric Study,”Philosophical Magazine Part B, 78(3) (1998) 37–52.
8.
FangmingZ., YichengY., and XiongyaL.“Cure of Prepolymer Based on Methyl Methacrylate/ Styrene and Optical Property and Hydrothermal Stability of Transparent Fibre-Reinforced Thermoplastic Copolymer Composites,”Journal of Wuhan University of Technology, Materials Science Edition, 9(2) (1994) 42–49.
9.
KnappeW., and SchobermayrH.“Laminated, Stretched Semi-Crystalline Thermoplastic Film Composites.”Kunststoffe-German Plastics, 76(8) (1986) 16–19.
10.
AnagnostisZ., RichardB., and RogerP.“Extrusion of Self-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Illustrated by High Density Polyethylene,”Journal of Materials Science, 13(12) (1978) 2671–2675.
11.
JoshuaS., and GoulbourneN.C.“Impact Mechanics of Transparent Multi-Layered Polymer Composites,”Society for Experimental Mechanics-SEM Annual Conference and Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, 3 (2009) 1963–1982.
12.
HiroyukiM.“Dynamic Tensile Behavior and Light Transmittance of Cyclo-Olefine Polymer/Clay Composites,”Zairyo/Journal of the Society of Materials Science, 58(11) (2009) 895–902.
13.
VelezM., BraistedW.R., FrankG.J., PhillipsP.L., DayD.E., and McLaughlinM.D.“Impact Strength of Optically Transparent Glass Ribbon Composites,”Journal of Composite Materials, 46(14) (2012) 1677–1695.
14.
National Research Council, 1996, “New Materials for Next-Generation Commercial Transports”, Washington, D.C., The National Academies Press.
15.
BondG.G., GriffithJ.M., and HahnG.L.“Non-Autoclave Prepreg Manufacturing Technology,” 40th International SAMPE Fall Technical Conference, Memphis, TN, Sept. 8–11 (2008) 1–25.
MentaV.G.K., VuppalapatiR.R., ChandrashekharaK., PfitzingerD., and PhanN.“Evaluation of Honeycomb Sandwich Structures Manufactured using VARTM Process,”Proceedings of the SAMPE Conference, Seattle, WA, May 17–20 (2010) 1–12.
18.
ChandrashekharaK., SundararamanS., BerkelT.R., BilowG.B., and FieldingJ.C.“Experimental Evaluation and Finite Element Analysis of Vacuum Infused Stiffened Composite Panels,”Proceedings of the SAMPE Conference, WA, Oct. 31-Nov. 3 (2005) 1–10.
19.
BrosiusD.“Boeing 787 Update”, High Performance Composites, May 2007.
20.
HuJ., SundararamanS., ChandrashekharaK., BerkelT., BilowG., and FieldingJ.“A Refined Porous Media Model for Mold Filling in Vacuum Infusion Process,”Proceedings of the SAMPE Conference, Baltimore, MD, June 3–7 (2007) 1–11.
21.
VelezM., SchumanT., and DayD.“Optical Properties of Optically Transparent Glass-Ribbon Composites,”Journal of Composite Materials, (2013). DOI: 10.1177/0021998313513204.
22.
KrugD.J., AsuncionM.Z., PopovaV., and LaineR.M.“Transparent Fiber Glass Reinforced Composites,”Composites Science and Technology, 77 (2013) 95–100.
23.
OlsonJ.R., DayD.E., and StofferJ.O.“Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of an Optically Transparent Glass Fiber/Polymer Matrix Composite,”Journal of Composite Materials, 26(8) (1992) 1181–92.
