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. 2020 Feb 14;12(2):448.
doi: 10.3390/polym12020448.

Fracture Toughness Analysis of Epoxy-Recycled Rubber-Based Composite Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets for Structural Applications in Automotive and Aeronautics

Alaeddin Burak Irez  1 , Emin Bayraktar  2 , Ibrahim Miskioglu  3
Affiliations

Fracture Toughness Analysis of Epoxy-Recycled Rubber-Based Composite Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets for Structural Applications in Automotive and Aeronautics

Alaeddin Burak Irez et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

This study proposes a new design of lightweight and cost-efficient composite materials for the aeronautic industry utilizing recycled fresh scrap rubber, epoxy resin, and graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs). After manufacturing the composites, their bending strength and fracture characteristics were investigated by three-point bending (3PB) tests. Halpin-Tsai homogenization adapted to composites containing GnPs was used to estimate the moduli of the composites, and satisfactory agreement with the 3PB test results was observed. In addition, 3PB tests were simulated by finite element method incorporating the Halpin-Tsai homogenization, and the resulting stress-strain curves were compared with the experimental results. Mechanical test results showed that the reinforcement with GnPs generally increased the modulus of elasticity as well as the fracture toughness of these novel composites. Toughening mechanisms were evaluated by SEM fractography. The typical toughening mechanisms observed were crack deflection and cavity formation. Considering the advantageous effects of GnPs on these novel composites and cost efficiency gained by the use of recycled rubber, these composites have the potential to be used to manufacture various components in the automotive and aeronautic industries as well as smart building materials in civil engineering applications.

Keywords: Halpin–Tsai; SEM; graphene nanoplatelets; recycled rubber; toughening mechanisms.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Manufacturing flow chart for the recycled ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)-modified epoxy-based composites.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Engineering stress–strain curves of the manufactured composites.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of the fracture surfaces: (a) 10% rubber-consisting composition—LR1G0.5; (b) 30% rubber-consisting composition—LR3G0.5.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Experimental results and Halpin–Tsai model comparison of elasticity modulus of LRG composites by the increasing content of GnPs.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Stress field obtained from the finite element method (FEM) analysis for LR2G1.5.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison of the experimental results and FEM analyses.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Variation of fracture toughness with GnPs for (a) 0% rubber, (b) 10% rubber, (c) 20% rubber, (d) 30% rubber.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Fracture surface observation in LRG group composites: (a) tortuous passage in the fracture of GnP-reinforced epoxy-based composites; (b) dimple generation; (c) crack deflection.
Figure 9
Figure 9
SEM fractography on the LRG group’s compositions: (a) shear band formation; (b) void observation.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Ductile yielding in the LRG group’s compositions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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