Flexural fatigue damage analyses of recycled rubber-modified epoxy-based composites reinforced with alumina fibres

Manufacturers have been working towards finding clean and cost-efficient solutions by utilizing recycled materials to produce new components. Recycled rubber is one such material widely used in aeronautic and automotive industries. In this study, fresh scrap ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM) rubber is mixed with epoxy to manufacture novel composites with the addition of alumina (Al2O3) fibres. These composites can potentially be used to manufacture components subjected to cyclic loading, and to ensure reliability of such components, fatigue behaviour of these composites should be evaluated. This article describes the manufacturing of recycled rubber-modified epoxy-based ternary composites and their fatigue behaviour as well as toughening mechanisms. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was performed to determine thermomechanical properties. Three-point bending and flexural fatigue tests and Shore D hardness measurements were carried out to determine mechanical properties. After static/fatigue fracture, fracture surfaces were observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine toughening mechanisms in these composites.