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Fabrication and characterization of functionally graded nanoclay/glass fiber/epoxy hybrid nanocomposite laminates

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Abstract

In this work, hardness, tensile, impact, bearing strength and water absorption tests were performed to study the mechanical properties of stepwise graded and non-graded hybrid nanocomposites. Three different stepwise graded nanocomposites and one non-graded (homogeneous) nanocomposite with the same geometry and total nanoclay content of 10 wt% were designed and prepared. Moreover, one neat glass fiber laminate was manufactured. The results of the tests indicated that addition of the graded and non-graded nanoclay improves hardness over neat glass fiber reinforcement. The maximum increase in hardness of about 53% over neat specimen is obtained for specimens that have the highest weight percentage (2 wt%) of the clay nanoparticles on its surface (S-specimen and the side of F-specimen that reinforced with 2 wt% nanoclay). The gradation process results in an increase in hardness of about 11% compared with non-graded (homogeneous) specimen. In addition, an improvement of 11.9% in strain-to-failure is achieved with specimen having greatest amount of nanoclay in the middle over neat glass fiber/epoxy composite. The other nanoclay-filled glass fiber composites have strain-to-failure close to neat glass fiber/epoxy. The addition of nanoclay reinforcement has insignificant effect on ultimate tensile strength, tensile modulus, water absorption, bearing strength and impact strength compared with neat glass fiber/epoxy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Design and Production Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, P. O. Box: 44519, Zagazig, Egypt

    Ahmed Abou El-Wafa Megahed & Mona Megahed

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  1. Ahmed Abou El-Wafa Megahed
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  2. Mona Megahed
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Correspondence to Ahmed Abou El-Wafa Megahed.

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Megahed, A.AW., Megahed, M. Fabrication and characterization of functionally graded nanoclay/glass fiber/epoxy hybrid nanocomposite laminates. Iran Polym J 26, 673–680 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-017-0552-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-017-0552-y

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