Advanced epoxy composites of improved impact tolerance
Krystyna Imielińska*, Rafał Wojtyra** *Politechnika Gdańska, Wydział Mechaniczny, Katedra Inżynierii Materiałowej, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdańsk **Politechnika Gdańska, Wydział Oceanotechniki i Okrętownictwa, Katedra Technik Głębinowych, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdańsk
Annals 4 No. 9, 2004 pages 61-67
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abstract The materials aspects of improved low velocity impact tolerance have been reviewed. These include: tougher matrix systems, controlling fibre/matrix interfacial bond strength, using woven and mixed woven fibre fabrics, protective layers, stitching, Z-pinning, hybrid reinforcement, 3D structures, non-crimp fabrics NCF. For current structures, Z pinning shows the most promise, although the cost associated with this concept is currently high. For future structures, 3D woven materials show significant promise for impact tolerant design. As an illustration to the problem selected experimental results from the authors’ work on low velocity impact (rebound) behaviour were presented for hybrid glass/carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy toughened with phenolic microspheres as well as aramid- glass with three different matrix types. The results showed that toughening epoxy matrix with phenolic microspheres had positive effect on absorbed impact energy (Figs 3, 4). The second phase acts to absorb significant amount of energy during fracture through mechanisms of crack front bowing and crack splitting. Changing to a tougher resin system has a number of advantages, most notably an increase in delamination resistance. However, other mechanical properties of tougher materials tend to be reduced, particularly compression dominated properties, which may suffer due to increased matrix compliance. Protective layer of aramid-glass fabric had minor effect on impact characteristics but was found promi-sing in terms of perforation resistance. Interlayer woven carbon/glass-fibre/epoxy composites are used in practice in the construction of composite marine crafts at critical points of the glass/epoxy structure where improved stiffness is needed. The results obtained in this study for glass/carbon composites and in the previous work show (Figs 3, 4) that interlayer woven carbon/glass-fibre/epoxy composites exhibit high impact energy absorption combined with high strength. Impact damage resistance and impact damage tolerance of glass/carbon/epoxy composites depends on the stacking sequence of the laminate. Key words: impact behaviour, polymer composites, glass/carbon/epoxy laminates