Effect of graphene nanosheets on interlaminar mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced metal laminates

Abstract

Aiming at the problem of weak bond strength between CARALL metal/resin/fiber layers, this paper proposes a new preparation method to improve the bond strength between CARALL layers. In this method, Graphene platelets (GnPs) with different mass fractions (0%, 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5% and 1.0%) are uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin by ultrasonic dispersion method, and using the wet layup method completes the production of CARALL. Carry out the I type fracture toughness test, explore the influence of GnPs on the CARALL interlaminar performance, and carry out the test of the tensile and flexural properties of CARALL to study the influence of GnPs on the mechanical properties of CARALL. The enhancement mechanism of GnPs and the failure mode of CARALL specimens were observed by SEM and optical images. The results show that when the amount of GnPs added is 0.5%, CARALL has the best interlaminar strength and mechanical properties. When 0.5% GnPs is added, the type I fracture toughness is increased by 79%; the tensile strength, Young's modulus, and strain rate at break are increased by 14.5%, 11.0%, and 15.5%, respectively; the flexural strength and flexural strain rate are increased by 20.5% and 89.7%, respectively. This is because adding GnPs to the epoxy resin can disperse the load carried by CARALL, and use its own fracture, pull-out and debonding mechanisms to absorb energy, and further improve the interlayer mechanical properties of CARALL.

Keywords

• carbon-reinforced aluminum laminates
• graphene platelets
• interface properties
• mechanical properties
• strengthening mechanism