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Effect of Halloysite Nanotubes on Matrix Microcracking in Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites

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Mechanics of Composite Materials Aims and scope

Matrix microcracking is considered the main factor responsible for the gas permeation in linerless pressure vessels and storage tanks. The addition of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to them at different concentrations was studied in order to enhance their microcrack resistance. A 50% increase in the cracking onset stress was found at a 5% addition of HNTs to the epoxy matrix. Moreover, a 60% increase was observed at a similar level of microcrack density compared with that of neat epoxy. A reactive diluent was used as an alternative to keep the viscosity suitable for the filament winding process and to offset the rise in viscosity by HNT incorporation. Despite the fact that the matrix fracture toughness increased even to 10% of HNTs, no growth in the microcrack resistance was found at more than 5% of HNTs. As a result, it was concluded that the microcracking phenomenon can be affected not only by the matrix fracture toughness, but also by the residual thermal stresses.

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Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the University of Mar del Plata, the National Research Council (CONICET) and of the Agency for the Promotion of Science and Technology [FONARSEC - ANPCyT; PICT-2016-4048].

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  1. Structural Composite Group (CET), Materials Science and Technology Research Institute (INTEMA) –Technical and Scientific National Research Council (CONICET) and National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP), 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    M. J. Churruca, J. I. Morán & E. S. Rodríguez

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  1. M. J. Churruca
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  2. J. I. Morán
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Correspondence to E. S. Rodríguez.

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Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 58, No. 2, pp. 411-428, March-April, 2022. Russian DOI: https://doi.org/10.22364/mkm.58.2.11.

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Churruca, M.J., Morán, J.I. & Rodríguez, E.S. Effect of Halloysite Nanotubes on Matrix Microcracking in Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites. Mech Compos Mater 58, 293–304 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-022-10030-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-022-10030-5

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