You are here

Characterization of mechanical properties in nanoparticle reinforced hybrid carbon fiber composites using photoluminescence piezospectroscopy

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
2017
Abstract/Description:
Carbon fiber composites have become popular in aerospace structures and applications due to their light weight, high strength, and high performance. Hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polymer (HCFRP) composites with alumina nanoparticles reinforcement display improved material properties such as fracture toughness, resistance to crack propagation and improved fatigue life. However, homogeneous dispersion of nanoscale materials in the matrix is important for even distribution of the improved properties. Implementing silane coupling agents (SCAs) improves dispersion by acting as a bridge between organic and inorganic materials, which increases interfacial strength and decreases sedimentation by bonding the particulate filler to the fiber reinforcement. This research is aimed at quantifying the improvement in dispersion of nanoparticles and elucidating the effects on the mechanical property of HCFRP samples through the novel use of photoluminescent characteristic peaks emitted by the alumina reinforcement particles. Photo-luminescene emission from secondary reinforcement particles of alumina embedded within the hybrid carbon fiber composites is leveraged to reveal microstructural effects of functionalization and particle weight fraction as it relates to overall composite mechanics.6, 9 and 12 weight percentage of alumina particle loading with Reactive Silane Coupling Agents, Non-reactive Silane Coupling Agent surface treatments and untreated condition are investigated in this research. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted with measurements using piezospectroscopy (PS) and concurrent digital image correlation (DIC) to quantify the mechanical property and load distribution between the carbon fiber/epoxy and the reinforcing nanoparticles. The piezospectroscopic data were collected in an in-situ configuration using a portable piezospectroscopy system while the sample was under tensile load. Photoluminescence results show the dispersion and sedimentation behavior of the nanoparticles in the material for different surface treatment and weight percentage of the alumina nanoparticles. The piezospectroscopic maps capture and track the residual stress and its change under applied load. The results reveal the effect of varying particle loading on composite mechanical properties and how this changes with different functionalization conditions. The role of the particles in load transfer in the hybrid composite is further investigated and compared with theory. This work extends the capability of spectroscopy as an effective non-invasive method to study, at the microstructural level, the material and manufacturing effects on the development of advanced composites for applications in aerospace structures and beyond.
Title: Characterization of mechanical properties in nanoparticle reinforced hybrid carbon fiber composites using photoluminescence piezospectroscopy.
35 views
14 downloads
Name(s): Jahan, Sanjida, Author
Raghavan, Seetha, Committee Chair
Gou, Jihua, Committee Member
Bai, Yuanli, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2017
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Carbon fiber composites have become popular in aerospace structures and applications due to their light weight, high strength, and high performance. Hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polymer (HCFRP) composites with alumina nanoparticles reinforcement display improved material properties such as fracture toughness, resistance to crack propagation and improved fatigue life. However, homogeneous dispersion of nanoscale materials in the matrix is important for even distribution of the improved properties. Implementing silane coupling agents (SCAs) improves dispersion by acting as a bridge between organic and inorganic materials, which increases interfacial strength and decreases sedimentation by bonding the particulate filler to the fiber reinforcement. This research is aimed at quantifying the improvement in dispersion of nanoparticles and elucidating the effects on the mechanical property of HCFRP samples through the novel use of photoluminescent characteristic peaks emitted by the alumina reinforcement particles. Photo-luminescene emission from secondary reinforcement particles of alumina embedded within the hybrid carbon fiber composites is leveraged to reveal microstructural effects of functionalization and particle weight fraction as it relates to overall composite mechanics.6, 9 and 12 weight percentage of alumina particle loading with Reactive Silane Coupling Agents, Non-reactive Silane Coupling Agent surface treatments and untreated condition are investigated in this research. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted with measurements using piezospectroscopy (PS) and concurrent digital image correlation (DIC) to quantify the mechanical property and load distribution between the carbon fiber/epoxy and the reinforcing nanoparticles. The piezospectroscopic data were collected in an in-situ configuration using a portable piezospectroscopy system while the sample was under tensile load. Photoluminescence results show the dispersion and sedimentation behavior of the nanoparticles in the material for different surface treatment and weight percentage of the alumina nanoparticles. The piezospectroscopic maps capture and track the residual stress and its change under applied load. The results reveal the effect of varying particle loading on composite mechanical properties and how this changes with different functionalization conditions. The role of the particles in load transfer in the hybrid composite is further investigated and compared with theory. This work extends the capability of spectroscopy as an effective non-invasive method to study, at the microstructural level, the material and manufacturing effects on the development of advanced composites for applications in aerospace structures and beyond.
Identifier: CFE0006886 (IID), ucf:51715 (fedora)
Note(s): 2017-12-01
M.S.A.E.
Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite -- Alumina reinforcement -- Piezospectroscopy
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006886
Restrictions on Access: public 2017-12-15
Host Institution: UCF

In Collections