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Enhancing Fracture Toughness and Stress Energy Release Rate of Vinyl Ester Matrix Using Dual Reinforcement of CNT and GNP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2018

Christopher Gapstur ,
Hassan Mahfuz ,
Javad Hashemi  and
Andrew C. Terentis
Christopher Gapstur*
Affiliation:
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, U.S.A.
Hassan Mahfuz
Affiliation:
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, U.S.A.
Javad Hashemi
Affiliation:
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, U.S.A.
Andrew C. Terentis
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, U.S.A.
*
*(Email: cgapstur@fau.edu)
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Abstract

In this paper, we report a method of increasing fracture toughness (KIC) and strain energy release rate (GIC) of vinyl ester matrix by adopting a dual reinforcement strategy. Reinforcements were carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). Both categories of nanoparticles were functionalized with COOH. The idea was to enhance crack bridging and interface sliding with CNT inclusions, given their high aspect ratio. In addition, promote crack-tip blunting and cross-linking density with GNP inclusions, due to their platelet structures. Both KIC and GIC were measured using ASTM D5045-14. An exhaustive experimental study revealed an optimum loading of both nanoparticles to be 0.25 wt% CNT and 0.5 wt% GNP, based on the highest combination of KIC and GIC values. We observed that stress intensity factor, KIC, of neat vinyl ester increased by 43% from 1.14 to 1.62 MPa*(m½). Meanwhile, the improvement in GIC was even greater with an increase of 65%, i.e., from 370 to 610 J/(m2). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies showed a discernible shift in glass transition temperature (Tg) from 123 to 128°C. The slight temperature increase was similar in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). We observed the maximum thermal decomposition temperature (Tp) increase from 410 to 414°C, as was evident in the derivative TGA (DTG) curves.

Keywords

compositefracturenanostructure
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 3 , Issue 15-16: Nanomaterials , 2018 , pp. 867 - 873
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2018 

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References

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