The Tensile Fatigue Behavior of a GFRP Composite with Rubber Particle Modified Epoxy Matrix
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Manjunatha, CM
Taylor, AC
Kinloch, AJ
Sprenger, S
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A thermosetting epoxy polymer was modified by incorporating 9 wt% of a CTBN rubber microparticles. The stress-controlled CA tensile fatigue behavior at stress ratio, R = 0.1 for both the neat and the modified epoxy was investigated. The addition of rubber particles increased the epoxy fatigue life by a factor of about three to four times. The rubber particle cavitation and plastic deformation of the surrounding material was observed to contribute to the enhanced fatigue life of the epoxy polymer. Then, the neat and the rubber-modified epoxy resins were infused into a quasi-isotropic, lay-up E-glass fiber, non-crimp fabric in a RIFT set -up to fabricate GFRP composite panels. Further, the stress-controlled CA tensile fatigue tests at stress ratio, R = 0.1 were performed on both of these GFRP composites. Matrix cracking and stiffness degradation was continuously monitored during the fatigue tests. Similar to bulk epoxy fatigue behavior, the fatigue life of GFRP composites increased by a factor of about three times due to the presence of rubber particles in the epoxy matrix. The suppressed matrix cracking and the reduced crack propagation rates in the rubber-modified matrix contribute towards the enhanced fatigue life of GFRP composites employing a rubber-modified epoxy matrix.
Date Issued
2010-07-12
Date Acceptance
2009-09-08
Citation
Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 2010, 29 (14), pp.2170-2183
ISSN
1530-7964
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Start Page
2170
End Page
2183
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites
Volume
29
Issue
14
Copyright Statement
© Sage 2009. The final publication is available via Sage at https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0731684409344652
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Physical Sciences
Materials Science, Composites
Polymer Science
Materials Science
MATERIALS SCIENCE, COMPOSITES
POLYMER SCIENCE
GFRP composite
fatigue
rubber-modified epoxy
thermosetting epoxy matrices
toughening mechanisms
SILICA NANO-PARTICLES
STIFFNESS DEGRADATION
TOUGHENING MECHANISMS
FRACTURE-BEHAVIOR
REINFORCED EPOXY
DAMAGE
POLYMERS
RESINS
TOUGHNESS
ADHESIVES
Publication Status
Published