Nanoclay Addition and Core Materials Effect on Impact and Damage Tolerance Capability of Glass Fiber Skin Sandwich Laminates

摘要

This study explores the effects of modified (OMMT) nanoclay and core material on low velocity impact behavior and damage tolerance capability of glass fiber reinforced (FRP) polyester resin - polystyrene foam (PS) sandwich laminates. The FRP and sandwich laminates are prepared by a compression molding technique for investigation. Low velocity impacts are carried out on all the fabricated laminates by using a instrumented drop weight impact tower with the energy level of 30 J and load-energy-time plots were recorded using data acquisition software. Post impact flexural tests have been conducted to evaluate the damage tolerance capability of the fabricated composite laminates. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results have been obtained for the samples, where the nanoclay has indicated that intergallery spacing of the layered clay increases with the matrix. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has given the morphological picture of the nanoclay dispersion in the polymer fracture samples. The results of the study show that the impact properties and damage tolerance capability of the 4% nanoclay polyester sandwich have been greatly increased.