Mechanical and low velocity impact behaviour of intra-ply glass/kevlar fibre reinforced nano-silica and micro-rubber modified epoxy resin hybrid composite

In this research the effects of nano-silica (NS) and micro rubber particles addition into epoxy resin reinforced with glass/kevlar-49 intra-ply woven fiber hybrid composites were experimentally investigated. The principal aim of this research explicit the significance of nano-silica addition into epoxy resin along with intra-ply glass/kevlar-49 woven mat in mechanical and impact behaviour. The composites were prepared using single stacking sequence of glass fibre/Kevlar/glass fibre eight layered binary composite system with single fibre orientation (0–90°). The glass/kevlar intra-ply fibre laminas are prepared using hand weaving and the final composite was fabricated using hand lay-up method. The intra-ply fibre reinforced composite with nano silica gives much improved results in tensile and flexural behaviour rather than composites contain mono fibre. The tensile, flexural and fracture toughness tests were done using universal testing machine, whereas the impact damage analysis was done by drop load impact test. The maximum tensile/flexural strength and modulus of 223/131 MPa and 9.73/6.2 GPa were observed for composites contain micro-rubber and nano-silica modified epoxy resin reinforced with 50 wt% of intra-ply glass/Kevlar fibre (EF2RS) and micro-rubber modified epoxy resin reinforced with 50 wt% of intra-ply glass/Kevlar fibre (EF2R). Similarly the maximum fracture toughness and energy absorption rate of 42 MPa and 3.68 MJ m−2 were observed for composite contain micro-rubber and nano-silica modified epoxy resin reinforced with 50 wt% of intra-ply glass/Kevlar fibre (EF2RS). The low velocity impact specimen (EF2RS) shows minimum sub-surface damage during sudden impact rather than other composites. SEM morphological results revealed uniform fracture behaviour of intra-ply laminates under impact loading.