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. 2021 Oct 28;13(21):3735.
doi: 10.3390/polym13213735.

Effect of Strain Rate and Silica Filler Content on the Compressive Behavior of RTM6 Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites

Ahmed Elmahdy  1 , Aldobenedetto Zotti  2 , Simona Zuppolini  2 , Mauro Zarrelli  2 , Anna Borriello  2 , Patricia Verleysen  1
Affiliations

Effect of Strain Rate and Silica Filler Content on the Compressive Behavior of RTM6 Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites

Ahmed Elmahdy et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of strain rate and filler content on the compressive behavior of the aeronautical grade RTM6 epoxy-based nanocomposites. Silica nanoparticles with different sizes, weight concentrations and surface functionalization were used as fillers. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to study the glass transition temperature and storage modulus of the nanocomposites. Using quasi-static and split Hopkinson bar tests, strain rates of 0.001 s-1 to 1100 s-1 were imposed. Sample deformation was measured using stereo digital image correlation techniques. Results showed a significant increase in the compressive strength with increasing strain rate. The elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio showed strain rate independency. The addition of silica nanoparticles marginally increased the glass transition temperature of the resin, and improved its storage and elastic moduli and peak yield strength for all filler concentrations. Increasing the weight percentage of the filler slightly improved the peak yield strength. Moreover, the filler's size and surface functionalization did not affect the resin's compressive behavior at different strain rates.

Keywords: epoxy resin; high strain rate; mechanical behavior; nanocomposites; silica nanoparticles; split Hopkinson bar.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Manufacturing procedures of the silica/epoxy nanocomposites.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SEM images of the synthesized silica nanoparticles: (a) non-functionalized, (b) functionalized and (c) non-functionalized nanoparticles (indicated by arrows) at 5% weight content in the RTM6 epoxy resin.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Quasi-static compression setup with a detail of the speckled sample (top right).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic of the SHPB setup.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) High-speed 3D DIC setup used, with detail of the speckled sample (bottom left). (b) An example of the incident, reflected and transmitted waves recorded by strain gauges on the Hopkinson bars during a dynamic compression experiment.
Figure 6
Figure 6
DMA curves of the silica/RTM6 epoxy nanocomposites compared to the neat RTM6 epoxy: (a) NPsNF and (b) NPsF filled nanocomposites.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Representative compressive true stress-true strain curves at different strain rates for the RTM6 epoxy/silica nanocomposites: (a) unfilled neat resin, (b) non-functionalized 0.1%, (c) non-functionalized 1%, (d) non-functionalized 5%, (e) functionalized 0.1% and (f) functionalized 1%.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Stages of deformation of a silica nanoparticle sample (0.1% NPsNF) in compression.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Effect of strain rate on the elastic modulus of the silica nanoparticle-filled epoxy at different particle weight contents and functionalization conditions: (a) non-functionalized and (b) functionalized.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Effect of strain rate on the Poisson’s ratio of the silica nanoparticle-filled epoxy at different particle weight contents and functionalization conditions: (a) non-functionalized and (b) functionalized.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Effect of strain rate on the compressive true peak yield strength for the silica nanoparticle-filled epoxy at different particle weight contents and functionalization conditions: (a) non-functionalized and (b) functionalized.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Effect of silica nanoparticles size and surface functionalization on the compressive true peak yield strength: (a) 0.1% and (b) 1%.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Effect of silica nanoparticles size and surface functionalization on the compressive elastic modulus for the silica nanoparticle-filled epoxy at different particle weight contents: (a) 0.1% and (b) 1%.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Effect of silica nanoparticles size and surface functionalization on the Poisson’s ratio for the silica nanoparticle: (a) 0.1% and (b) 1%.
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