Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tensile, impact, and mode-I behaviour of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite modified by graphene nanoplatelets

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper reports the tensile, impact, and mode-I behaviour of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites modified by incorporating graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on the fiber surface and in the epoxy matrix. The composites were fabricated through a hand lay-up technique followed by hot compression moulding. The homogeneous dispersion of GnPs in the matrix was achieved by mechanical mixing followed by ultra-sonication. The glass fibers were coated with varying quantities of GnPs (GnPs in epoxy) by the dip-coating technique. The composites containing 1 wt% GnPs on both the fiber surface and the matrix (0.5 wt% deposited on the fiber and 0.5 wt% dispersed in epoxy) enhanced the impact resistance by 45% and tensile strength by 114% over the pristine composite. The mode-I fracture toughness of the composite containing 1 wt% GnPs on both the fiber surface and the matrix was increased by 55% with the crack parallel to the fiber direction and 64% in a crack perpendicular to the fiber direction over the pristine composite. The presence of GnPs at the fiber/matrix interface toughened the fiber surface by preventing the matrix from cracking.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Liu Q, Lin Y, Zong Z, Sun G, Li Q. Lightweight design of carbon twill weave fabric composite body structure for electric vehicle. Compos Struct. 2013;97:231–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sathishkumar T, Satheeshkumar S, Naveen J. Glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites—a review. J Reinf Plast Compos. 2014;33:1258–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Karger-Kocsis J, Mahmood H, Pegoretti A. Recent advances in fiber/matrix interphase engineering for polymer composites. Prog Mater Sci. 2015;73:1–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lawal AT. Graphene-based nano composites and their applications. A review. Biosens Bioelectron. 2019;141:111384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Mohan VB, Lau KT, Hui D, et al. Graphene-based materials and their composites: a review on production, applications and product limitations. Compos Part B Eng. 2018;142:200–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Prusty RK, Ghosh SK, Rathore DK, Ray BC. Reinforcement effect of graphene oxide in glass fibre/epoxy composites at in situ elevated temperature environments: an emphasis on graphene oxide content. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2017;95:40–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chen J, Zhao D, Jin X, Wang C, Wang D, Ge H. Modifying glass fibers with graphene oxide: towards high-performance polymer composites. Compos Sci Technol. 2014;97:41–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ahmadi-Moghadam B, Sharafimasooleh M, Shadlou S, Taheri F. Effect of functionalization of graphene nanoplatelets on the mechanical response of graphene/epoxy composites. Mater Des. 2015;66:142–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kamar NT, Hossain MM, Khomenko A, Haq M, Drzal LT, Loos A. Interlaminar reinforcement of glass fiber/epoxy composites with graphene nanoplatelets. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2015;70:82–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Domun N, Kaboglu C, Paton KR, Dear JP, Liu J, Blackman BRK, Liaghat G, Hadavinia H. Ballistic impact behaviour of glass fibre reinforced polymer composite with 1D/2D nanomodified epoxy matrices. Compos Part B Eng. 2019;167:497–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Domun N, Paton KR, Blackman BRK, Kaboglu C, Vahid S, Zhang T, Dear JP, Kinloch AJ, Hadavinia H. On the extent of fracture toughness transfer from 1D/2D nanomodified epoxy matrices to glass fibre composites. J Mater Sci. 2020;55:4717–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kuilla T, Bhadra S, Yao D, Kim NH, Bose S, Lee JH. Recent advances in graphene based polymer composites. Prog Polym Sci. 2010;35:1350–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Warrier A, Godara A, Rochez O, Mezzo L, Luizi F, Gorbatikh L, Lomov SV, VanVuure AW, Verpoest I. The effect of adding carbon nanotubes to glass/epoxy composites in the fibre sizing and/or the matrix. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2010;41:532–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Godara A, Gorbatikh L, Kalinka G, Warrier A, Rochez O, Mezzo L, Luizi F, van Vuure AW, Lomov SV, Verpoest I. Interfacial shear strength of a glass fiber/epoxy bonding in composites modified with carbon nanotubes. Compos Sci Technol. 2010;70:1346–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. ASTM (2000) Standard test method for tensile properties of polymer matrix composite materials. ASTM Stand D 3039/D 3039M—00. https://doi.org/10.1520/D3039_D3039M-08.

  16. ASTM (2012) Standard test method for measuring the damage resistance of a fiber-renforced polymer matrix composite to a drop-weight impact. ASTM Stand D7136/D7136M—12. https://doi.org/10.1520/D7136_D7136M-15.

  17. ASTM. Standard test method for plane-strain fracture toughness of metallic materials 1. ASTM Stand E. 1997;399–90(90):1–31.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Vasudevan A, Senthil Kumaran S, Naresh K, Velmurugan R. Layer-wise damage prediction in carbon/Kevlar/S-glass/E-glass fibre reinforced epoxy hybrid composites under low-velocity impact loading using advanced 3D computed tomography. Int J Crashworthiness. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1080/13588265.2018.1511234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Le MT, Huang SC. Thermal and mechanical behavior of hybrid polymer nanocomposite reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets. Materials (Basel). 2015;8:5526–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Prolongo SG, Jiménez-Suárez A, Moriche R, Ureña A. Graphene nanoplatelets thickness and lateral size influence on the morphology and behavior of epoxy composites. Eur Polym J. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2014.01.019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Seretis GV, Polyzou AK, Manolakos DE, Provatidis CG. Tensile performance of graphene nanoplatelets/glass fabric/epoxy nanocomposite laminae. Procedia Struct Integr. 2018;10:249–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Seretis GV, Nitodas SF, Mimigianni PD, Kouzilos GN, Manolakos DE, Provatidis CG. On the post-curing of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced hand lay-up glass fabric/epoxy nanocomposites. Compos Part B Eng. 2018;140:133–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Rokbi M, Osmani H, Benseddiq N, Imad A. On experimental investigation of failure process of woven-fabric composites. Compos Sci Technol. 2011;71:1375–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Fiedler B, Gojny FH, Wichmann MHG, Nolte MCM, Schulte K. Fundamental aspects of nano-reinforced composites. Compos Sci Technol. 2006;66:3115–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Chandrasekaran S, Seidel C, Schulte K. Preparation and characterization of graphite nano-platelet (GNP)/epoxy nano-composite: mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Eur Polym J. 2013;49:3878–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Hua Y, Li F, Liu Y, Huang GW, Xiao HM, Li YQ, Hu N, Fu SY. Positive synergistic effect of graphene oxide/carbon nanotube hybrid coating on glass fiber/epoxy interfacial normal bond strength. Compos Sci Technol. 2017;149:294–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Pegoretti A, Mahmood H, Pedrazzoli D, Kalaitzidou K. Improving fiber/matrix interfacial strength through graphene and graphene-oxide nano platelets. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng. 2016;139:012004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Yavari F, Rafiee MA, Rafiee J, Yu ZZ, Koratkar N. Dramatic increase in fatigue life in hierarchical graphene composites. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2010;2:2738–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the technical support for testing drop-weight impact test in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for- profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Anna University, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India

    G. V. Vigneshwaran & Balasivanandha Prabu Shanmugavel

  2. MPR Technologies, Johannesburg, South Africa

    R. Paskaramoorthy

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8656, Japan

    Sivasankaran Harish

Authors
  1. G. V. Vigneshwaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Balasivanandha Prabu Shanmugavel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Paskaramoorthy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sivasankaran Harish
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to G. V. Vigneshwaran or Balasivanandha Prabu Shanmugavel.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors of the present manuscript certify that they do not have any affiliations with any organization with any financial or non-financial interests. Authors report no conflict of interest for material explained in the manuscript.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval and consent to participate are not applicable to this article.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vigneshwaran, G.V., Shanmugavel, B.P., Paskaramoorthy, R. et al. Tensile, impact, and mode-I behaviour of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite modified by graphene nanoplatelets. Archiv.Civ.Mech.Eng 20, 94 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43452-020-00099-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43452-020-00099-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation