Mechanical properties of a laminated composite of aramid fabric and high-density polyethylene films reinforced with calcium carbonate, montmorillonite, and graphene

Nanofillers incorporated into polymeric matrices have gained attention for enhancing the properties of materials, particularly nanocomposites, with improvements observed in mechanical and dynamic mechanical thermal properties. Among the nanofillers, calcium carbonate (NCC), montmorillonite-type clays (MMT), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) are prominent. The novelty of this study lies in investigating the dynamic compression behavior using the split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) method on laminated composites prepared with reinforced High-density polyethylene (HDPE) films, including the hybrid effect of calcium carbonate with montmorillonite and calcium carbonate with graphene. The objective of this research is to evaluate the influence of incorporating 1% by mass of nanofillers in laminated composites made with aramid fabric interspersed with nanoreinforced HDPE films. The laminated composites were assessed through bending tests, SHPB, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). In addition to the samples containing NCC, MMT, and GNP, hybrid samples were prepared by intercalating films containing each nanofiller. The mechanical properties increased by 44%, 48%, and 55% in flexural strength and 46%, 69%, and 88% in flexural modulus for the composites prepared with calcium carbonate, graphene, and the hybrid graphene/calcium carbonate films, concerning the composite containing HDPE film. Moreover, the samples containing HDPE film with 1% GNP demonstrated a 79% increase in toughness, while the hybrid sample, which contained interspersed films of HDPE with 1% GNP and 1% NCC, exhibited a 46% increase in toughness. These results indicate a superior toughness response under high strain rates, contributing to enhanced energy dissipation. These two samples exhibited highly potential for ballistic industrial applications.Highlights Laminated composites reinforced with NCC, MMT, and GNP nanofillers. Mechanical properties of laminated composites assessed using the Split-Hopkinson pressure bar test and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Impact strength improvement through the incorporation of nanofiller into laminated composites. Enhanced energy dissipation in laminated composite materials.